Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-16
GENERAL BOYNTON's ELIGIBILITY
The Correspondence on the Subject
and President MacFaFlAnd's
VerV Curious Ruling.

The following correspondence has been
published in the city dailies during the past
week:
WASHINGTON, D. c., lWarch s, 1909.
" T. PettV, Esq. auditor District Of Co
nmbia, Distinct Building, WaShsRgioR-
DEAR SIR:-Permit me to call your at
tentiOn to the following.
Il. The Commissioners of the District
of Columbia are hereby authorized to ap-
point seven persons, bona nde residents
and taxpayers of the District of Columbia,
and who have been such for FIVE years inn
mediately preceding their appointment,
who shall constitute a Board of Education,
ETC., etc.
a. Enquiry at the Office of the Assessor
of the District Of Columbia results in the
statement that there is no property assessed
in the name Of the president of the Board of
Education Henry v BoyntOn
IF the information from the Office of the
assessor is correct, ! wish to enquire by
virtue of what right Mr. Boynton is serving
on the Board of Education, apparently in
direct cOntravention to the laws and also
by what right he is receiving pay therefor.
Il beg to remain, very respectfully,
y. P, v. RITTER"
~ p. J.. RiAey, Esq, 100 o Street. North
lOeSf, Washington, d. C.:
SIR referred to the Commissioners
your letter of the fifth instant, enquiring as
to General Boynton's eligibility to member
ship on the Board of Education, and was
instructed by the president, Commissioner
Macfarland to inform you that General
Boynton possesses the requisite qualifca-
lions as a taxpayer, and is entitled under
the law 10 serve as a member Of the Board
OF Education. Very respectfully,
j. T. PETTY, 44Hdi0T, ID. CT
We have not the pleasure Of Mr. Rit-
ter's acquaintance, but we must say that
we not only admire his good citizenship,
but his judgment He seems to have not
only told the truth as the facts were repre-
sented to him but as they existed as we'll
We have heard of President Macfarland and
thought him too shrewd a person to be
caught mapping in the way that he has Il
seems that while the correspondence is
with Auditor Petty, yet without ruling on
the matters presented Mr.. Petty has hur-
ried up stairs TO the push" of the triumvi-
rate and written as an office boy might what
President Macfarland told him to say Now,
when a citizen refers question of this kind
to an official it would seem that he wants
ard is entitled to a ruling on the subject
Instead Mr.. Petty either voluntarily or in
voluntarily, jumps behind the screen of the
appointing officer and says that we looked
into this matter a long time ago and without
stating how or why says that General BOyn
ton possesses the requisite qualifications.
Now, let us see who is a taxpayer accord
ing to the District office We should think
that the City Solicitor would blush for the
statement of his superiors, not that the
matter was not referred to him, but the total
lack of sense, law or logic in the position
which they take. General Boynton is con-
ceded not to have any property in his name,
L. e. ~
time the general has paid the taxes. And il is
to be presumed, so they say, from that that
he was a taxpayer. Good; let us all hire
our dwellings andItake out of the rent (by
agreement with the landlord) the taxes and
become bona Jide residents and. ia xpayers of
the District ofGColumbia.
There are some married ladies who are
members Of the board. Now, If the hus-
band pays the taxes he would be eligible
for appointment. Could the wife also be
eligible2 Manifestly not It appears TO be
the fellow who puts up the dough that gets
the persimmOns. Of all Inconsistencies
which we have heard this caps the climax.
Again, the District office does not appear to
be very certain about any Of the matters
they hesitate 70 say much Why not let as
know for how much Mrs Boynton's prom
erty is assessed. and how much the personal
check Of the general was drawn for2 WHY
not let a citizen ask a civil question and be
answered IN a civil way, as would beit
proper official viii the payment of anv
tax be sufficient 10 constitute a tax paver2
Let us buy dog tax and become instanter
one of the class Of citizens which Commis-
sioner Macfarlaud calls tax payers.
Let us have a candid response from the
auditor and ruling on the matters at issue.
And will the Commissioners not do General
Boynton the justice of letting him show
just where he stands and not putting him
way back under his good wife S skirts.
II is to be hoped that Mr. Ritter will in
sist on proper answer TO his query and
that the people of the District may know
how it comes that the laws OF Congress cam
not be supported al the District Office At
all events two things are now evident Mr..
mcfarland has been placed in an awkward
position by his Illegal ambiguous, uncer-
tain and doubtful response He mas made a
mistake either in appointing General Boyu-
ton a member Of the board ton The ground
that he pays the taxes on his wifes prop
erty) or he has erred In the appointment
of the lady members of the board who own
property but whose husbands pay the taxes
thereon. Get right Henry.