The Washington times., 1902-03-28
The Text of the Bill.

The wording of the bill is as follows:
THAT within thirty days after the pas
sage of this act the President of the
United States shall, by and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate. appoint
secretary of the District of Columbia,
who shall held Office for four years and
until his successor shall have been APP
pointed and qualified. and receive salary
of $1,000 per annum.
THAT he shall possess the qualifca-
lions as to citizenship of the United
States and residence in said District that
are now prescribed by law for the Com
missioners of said District appointed from
civil life, ard shall take an oatn and give
a bond for the faithful discharge of his
official duties such as those now required
by Law from said Commissioners.
As Acting Commissioner.
That during any absence from said Dis
trict of either of the Commissioners ap-l
pointed from civil life or the disability of
either of said Commissioners to perform
his duties as su:h the secretary shall,
as Acting Commissioner, discharge all the
official duties of such Commissioner.
That he shall keep a record of the acts
and correspondence of the Commission
ers sitting US a board, and perform such
other geTmane duties as the Board of
Commissioners may from time to time
prescribe He shall have sole official
charge. custody and use Of the seal of the
District of Columbia, adopted by the law
of the legislative assembly CT said Disi
trict entitled An act adopting a seal for
the District of Columbia approved Aug
ust 8. 1911
That in the event Of the temporary
absence from the District of Columbia or
disability of said secretary to perform
his duties, he shall with the approval of
the said Board Of Commissioners. dcsig-
nate a suitable person having the citi-
zenship and residence qualifications pre-
scribcd in section ?, who shall, during
such absence or disability, perform all
the duties prescribed in section of this
act"
Mr.. Eacfarland's Representations.
Commissioner Mcfarland. en- Tuesday.
wrote to Senator Mcmillan pointing out
what the Commissioners consider an espe-i
cisl need of such new officer He said
that the principal object of the proposed
bill is to provide against interruption
of the administration Of the District gov
eminent in case OF the absence of either
OF the Commissioners from civil life.
He stated that serious embarrassment
might at any time result from the present
system.
Mr.. Macfarland alluded to the fact that
the law already provides for a substitute
for the Engineer Commissioner
Affects Dr.. TindalI.
The present Secretary to the Commits
sioners.'' DR.. Tindall. would be the per-
son chiefly affected by the change in the
law. DIR. Tindali is considered one of the
most efficient officers of the District GOV
eminent. He belongs to the regular SER
and is virtually a clerk, not affected
changes of administration or in the
ersonnel Of the Board OF Commission
rs.
This bill would give him much larger
power than he now exercises, but it
would also, in making him virtually a
Commissioner. make him liable to retire
ment at any time. The question of SAL
airy is not a consideration in the bill. as
DR.. Tindalls salary would not be changed
by IT.