The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-29
Tributes Of Respectto Com
missioner Ross
PAID BY DISTRICT OFFICERS
Gloom at Municipal Building Where His
Kindly Personality and Character Has
Been for So Many Years a Most Pc
tent Influence.

Over Commissioner Ross death The
other Commissioners and many OF his
co-woTkers and colleagues had already
received the sad news before their ar
rival at the big brick edifice. and they
we're Outspol1en in their opinion that the
District had sustained severe loss
The surviving District Commissioners
this morning drafted eloquent TesolU-
lions Of regret over the death OF Nj.
Ross.
After paying tribute to his high char
acter and outlining the story Of his
work as District Commissioner, they
said:
The Commissioners. in official ez-
preston Of sorrow and respect, direct
that the Offices of the District Of Colum
Tia be closed from now until after the
funeral ceremonies Of the deceased in
his city, and that the flags on all the
buildings of the District government be
displayed at half-mast FOR thirty days
Copies OF this minute viii be f'I--
Gished by the secretary 70 the far lily Of
the deceased, the President Of the Uni
ted States, the Speaker OF the HCuse Ct
Representatives, the President pro ten
pore OF the Senate, the chaivmen of tne
Senate and House Committees on the
of the States and Territories"
Among the expressions heard from
he various officers ef the District gov
eminent and friends Of the deceased
. Commissioner we're the following
/ Commissioner NacfarlaId I'VE be
/ come acquainted with grief. but never
with death, and so, although I feared
/ that Commissioner Ross could not live.
/ the message that he had gone came with
( q shock. All ny life long. from the
/ time ! was a little boy. / had known
/ Mr.. Ross. and during the past few years
/ had been in the closest .reIat ions with
/ him. so that have deep feeling Of
/ personal loss. The charm OF his man
ner. the kindness Of his disposition.
appealed strongly 70 ne as % everyone
else. No mar in the District had more
/ friends. AID no man IN public life bad
/ fever enemies"
/ Major Richard :. Sylvester SU1erin-
/ tendent Of Police: The name CT Com
( missioner Ross is known in every Dis
/ tTicr household. Rich and poor. your e
and old who knew him loved him. As
on official he was very close to al his
/ subordiEates. Not only did he advise
and advance them. but he exercised 3
/ personal Interest in them. which par
took Of a fathevlv care The poor and
/ b. him. He often contributed from his
i own purse to alleviate their sufferings-
M Rcss was strong figure Ia effect
+ ing reform in the public service. he
/ earnestly advocated 2 municipal build
+ ing and civil service for the District
and told me a short time age that if
/ these two needs were provided he would
rel!nquish his official work. feeling
! happy and proud in being instrumental
! IN such accomplishment
All His Impulses Kindly and Just.
( Dr. William TindaIi. secretary to the
/ Board OF Commissioners. said
/ Mr. Ross was so we'll known to the
( putlic Of the District Of Columbia that
! il seems Euperfuous % discuss hin So
+ lar as my observation extends, there is
( hut one sentiment regarding his per-
IEOnal qualifications, and that sentiment
/ IS veil eTpr- 5sed in the article Of The
+ Times this morning On his death 1t
would be impossible for auyOIc to have
I 9 more agreeable official associate OF
/ superior than was Mr.. Ross. All his i'm
pulses were kindly and just
I Mr. Ross mind had not only fine
/ judicial quality, but he was possessed u
characteristics which would have served
! MIN admirably II he had chosen a 1t
/ ecary career. Some OK his eZtempoT1-
/ Feous efforts showed an unusual fac-
ultv IN that direction. which. IL eNer-
cised IN more pretentious lines. would
doubtless have obtained for him more
than usual distinction as an author. The
Keynote o. his popularity WAS, in my
judgment, his eonsiderate expressions
regarding the Yailings OF his fe{low-men.
This trait in his character is exem-
plifed BY one Of his maxims. which he
FwG NIL 81 IN n
duige yourself TO say a bitter thing cor
the pleasure Of saying it He could wish
no better epitaph"
Eminently a Man Of the People.
Mr. J. T. Petty. Auditor Of the District:
Language fails ne in the attempt to
express my sense OF the loss sustained
/ by the Government and the people Of
the District Of Columbia IN the death OF
/ Commissioner Ross.
! For twelve years he has so admins
tered his high Office as to command the
respect and confidence Of the comEun
Iity, and 10 win the loyal support and
I love Of everyone associated with him n
( the conduct Of the Government
Mr. Ross had singularIy clear and
/ complete apprehension Of the duties OF
/ his position, and no other Commissioner
/ ever measured up more fully 10 lis eE-
acting requirements. whether viewed
/ from the standpoint Of the citizen or q
/ those concerned In the direction Of local
/ affairs
( Every noble and IovabIe trait seemed
/ TO meet n his genial personality, and
/ all who had occasion for his services,
whether coming from the highest or the
humbIest walks OF life we're impressed
/ BIZ mis- charm OF manner and with the
( absolute fairness which he manifested
/ in passing upon every question present
&C for his consideration.
He was emiGently a man Of the pe0-
fple. and while the embodiment of eour-
ltesy to all OF every class who approached
! HIN. he was especially considerable to the
! poor and frlendless, rene Of whom ever
/ failed to secure patient and kindly au-
dience-
Our relations were most cordial and
! intimate, with never even q mOmentary
break IN our friendship and this
/ thought which is the principal consola-
/ ton OF this sad hour. VIII be a pleas
/ ant memory to me forever
c. c. Rogers, Discussing officer: The
death of Commissioner John ". Ross has
| cast a gloom over the entire community
and was q great shock 10 all of US Sor-
-ow is stamped On the face cl every. en-
pIoye 4 the District government /
/ cannot End words to express my own
( feelings. hIr- Ross always decided the