Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-29
AT THE DISTRICT BUILDING.
Universal Sorrow Over the Death Of
Commissioner Ross

Al HE D1SIh1CI BUILDING.
Universal Sorrow Over the Death Of
| Commissioner Ross.
| Sorrow over the death Of Commissioner
Ross today was keenest at the District
| building, where he was deeply beloved by
| officials and employees alike The flag on
| the District building was placed at half
mast as soon the sad news was received
| In connection with the lowering of the
! flag to the mourning position there was
| rather an affecting incident, to which only
| the smoke-law inspector, who is stationed
| on the roof Of the District building was
witness. The eolored porter who attends
| 10 the flag asked the inspector if he had
heard Mr.. Ross was dead. Mr.. Ross had
| pefriended the boy he had hundreds of
others. and the young fellow could not
keep tears from his eyes as he performed
the work which proclaimed through the ma
| tlonal emblem a District loss and sorrow.
The news of Mr.. Ross death came as
great shock. There was not a District
clerk who had not felt sure that Mr. Ross
would get well and return again to his
desk. Their hopes fathered this confidence,
however. rather than did any encouraging
news from the sick room. Mr.. Ross had
battled so valiantly throughout his illness
| that it was generally believed he would
win the fight. The real seriousness of the
situation was not realized until word came
or the end. Every clerk at the building
felt he had personal relationship with
Mr.. Ross. The Commissioner was a man
/ of such tact, sucn grace of. manner, and
was kind-hearted in dealing with the en-
pioyes and their petty grievances when
brought before him. He was also an able
hand in steering any conflicting officials
out of their little differences He was a
man of great sauvity of manner, well fitted
for the work he oftentimes performed that
of maintaining harmony in the official
family.
The general expressions of sorrow TODAY
which come from the Commissioners the
clerks and messengers, alike in their sin
certify and deep feeling testify the regard
In which Mr.. Ross was held. His long sery-
Ice of twelve years as Commissioner stamp
ed his personality on affairs at the building
and in all the offices, and 1t Is safe to saw
his memory will live long indeed in Dis
trict annals. The Commissioners loss is
felt as a personal one in the District serv-
1ce and extends also to every policeman
practically on the metropolitan force. Mr.
Ross had charge of the District police de-
partment and knew personally hundreds Of
the officers. He was constantly brought in
contact with them, and every bluecoat felt
that In the supervising Commissioner he
had friend.
District Offices Closed.
When the surviving Commissioners, Mr.
mcfarland and Col Biddle. arrived at the
District building this morning they held a
the death Of Mr.. Ross, in which a high
tribute is paid to the dead official and or
dered the District offices to be closed until
after the funeral services are held. Both
Mr.. mcfarland and Col. Biddle were deep
ly affected by the news Of their colleagues
death. The minute spread upon the official
records Is as follows:
Gully %, 1902.
''The Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia record with deep sorrow the
death of John Wesley Ross, Commissioner
Of the District of Columbia at his resi-
dence in this city early this morning. after
a brief Illness resulting from the eXacting
demands of his public service.
Mr.. Ross had served the District of Co.
lumbia as Commissioner from the LIST of
October, 1890, continuously under the APP
sent of the United States Senate of success
sive Presidents Of the United States He
served as president of the board of Com
missioners of the District of Columbia from
March l, 1893, to June 1. 1898, having been
thrice elected to that position. He had pre-
ViouSy served as a member and presi-
dent of the board of trustees of the public
schools of the District of Columbia. Prob
ity, fidelity and ability have been charac-
teristic of all the past Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia. Mr.. Ross met the
high standard of the Office throughout his
unexampled period of service. He was dis
tinguished by personal qualities of unusual
attractiveness, which endeared him to his
associates, to all the officials and employees
of Columbia, and the people of the District
generally.
Tribute to His Character.
Born in Illinois sixty-one years ago, of
fine American stock. he came to the Dis
trict to reside, and to practice at the bar
equipped with the highest qualifications,
natural and acquired. for good citizenship.
During his thirty years residence here,
whether in private or in public station, he
fulfilled the duties of a good citizen. His
service to the District of Columbia has
never been excelled. and will never be for
gotten.
The Commissioners. In official express
sion of sorrow and respect. direct that the
offices of the District of Columbia be
ceremonies of the deceased in this city. ard
that the flags on all the buildings Of the
District government be displayed at half
mast for thirty days.
COPIES Of this minute will be furnished
by the Secretary to the family of the de-
ceased, the President Of the United States,
the Speaker Of the House Of Representa-
tives. the President pro tempore of the
Senate, the chairmen of the Senate and
House committees on the District of Co.
lumbia, and the governors Of the states
and territories.''
Provision for Emergencies.
AS stated in the minute above, the Dis
trict offices were closed this afternoon and
will remain closed until after the funeral.
There are several of the District Offices
which are required by law to have some
one on duty, however, all the time, and
this law will be complied with. The
health office and permit departments, the
assessors and the personal tax depart
ments will have officials on duty TO issue
permits and receive returns as required.
The other offices will have some employee
present each day to provide for any erner-
gency that may arise
The only other District Commissioner to
die in office was Major W. ]. Twining. who
was assigned from the army engineer
corps as Engineer Commissioner, and who
died May 5. 1892 At. that time the Dis
trict offices were closed until after the fun
eral, which occurred May 8. The funeral
of Major Twining was a military one and
was attended by divisions of the police
and fire departments, the school trustees
public officials and District employees gen.
orally.
LOSS TO THE DISTRICT.
Commissioner Ross Death Deplored by
the People He Served.
Among all classes Of citizens the death