The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-01-17
The City OF Neutrality-suspicious. Mu-
nicipal Government.
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which pertain to other like incorpora-
tions.
The executive work Of the District is
in the hands of three commissioners
provided for in the act and appointed
by the President, and who must be con-
firmed like all other appointees. by the
senate of the United States. They serve
for three years and until their success
sors are installed in Office.
Two of the commissioners are CIVIL
ians, the other an engineer OF the
United States army with rank of
captain detailed for such service.
Under the act of congress the COM
missioners are intrusted with the SUI
pervision of all the affairs of the District
no matter how trivial. This commits
sion constitutes the head of executive
authority and the action of the COM
mission is final upon all questions
touching municipal affairs.
All except the merest routine work
passes through the hands of the COM
missioners. They make appointments
and may remove from Office They or
der promotions and receive resigna-
tons. They hear complaints from in
dignant citizens regarding nuisances or
any other cause and grant relief or
otherwise.
There are heads of departments, but
they are mere fgureheads. There is
an auditor, assessor, health officer.
superintendent of street cleaning, etc,
who exercise the merest routine
authority and simply carry out the in
structions of the commissioners.
1t will be noticed IN cities governed
by a municipal legislature the heads of
departments acting within the pre-
scribed limits of their delegated powers
are almost absolutely independent.
But in the city of Washington. such
matters as would be referred directly
to the heads of departments in New
York or Chicago, must be brought di.
rectly to the attention of the commits.
sioners, and the matter of final de-
cision upon all matters of whatsoever
character is left to the same power.
But the power of these commits
sioners is prescribed and limited as are
the powers of states under the consti.
tuition and in proper sense more so of
course.
There is no such legislative power in
the commission as is vested in munich
palities generally under state constitu-
tons. The commissioners must take
the law as they find it and if it Is In
adequate to meet exigencies no remedy
is at hand until a session of the Federal
Congress. Not citizen of the District
has a voice in how he shall be governed
in the city of Washington and the Dis
trict Of Columbia, excepting perhaps
The remote one of influence with his
home congressman. He is taxed with
out any regard to what he has to say
about it. 80 far as any direct voice i:
concerned.
The citizens of the District through
their business associations may bring tc
bear an influence on the commissioners
and thus influence their action, blu,
here their action ends.
The commissioners 90 before the
proper committees of congress and sug
gest and recommend such Legislation
as they deem proper and submit esti
mates for improvements and then tho
people of the District must wait TIT
action of Congress before getting tn,
required relief or legislation.
The residents of Washington more
over do not enjoy the elective franchise
within the limits of the District of Col
umbia. Living and doing business
within the district though they are, ant
enjoying every other constitutions
guarantee, they are here disfranchisee
people, with no more right POLITICAL,
speaking than any foreigners no
naturalized.
Notwithstanding this the city o
Washington has for its common coun
Gil the most dignified body of men il
the world, that is the senate of tn,
United States of America. 1t is Their,
that all important matters affecting tn
administration of the District of Colum
bia riginate-although such matter
may be proposed in the house of repre-
sentatives. The senate committee
the real centre of the municipal govern
ment. 1t is here that measures for tn
Improvement and good of the city frs
come up for discussion and shaping TO
the legislation that is to follow. Whel
the proposed measure is fully mature'
in this committee bill is Introduce
embodying the desired action and tn
committee acts as sponsor for same
Following the usual parlIamentar.
practice in such bodies the bill is re
ferred to this same committee. The ad
vice and recommendation of the com
missioners is formally added. and wit
any official report and recommendation
comes back to the senate committee 70