Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
IN PRESENC i OF FRIENDS
MR.. MAcFARLAND REELECTED
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
Estimates fer the Appropriations for
Next Fiscal Year to Be at
Once Taken Up.

trict building. Mr.. West called at police
headquarters on his way to the municipal
offices and was Joined by Major Sylvester.
the superintendent Of police. The new
Commissioner and the major are intimate
personal friends. Going to the fifth floor
Of the District building Commissioner West
and the police chief called upon Commits
sioner Mcfarland in his private office and
remained there until the time set for the
ceremonies in the board room.
The oath of office was administered by
DR.. William Tindall. secretary to the board.
A time-worn Bible. was used and Mr.. West
swore upon it to defend the Constitution
of the United States against all enemies.
foreign and domestic. He promised to bear
true and faithful allegiance to the Constr
luton and to we'll and faithfully discharge
the duties of the Office he was about to
enter.
The ceremony was witnessed by large
number OF District officials and friends OF
Mr.. west After ne had formally taken OF
nee reception was rendered the new Com
missioner. at which he was presented to all
the chiefs of departments in the District
government and to most of the clerks IN
District employ. Messrs. Mcfarland and
Biddle stood in line with him.
Held Reception.
Following the reception the Commission
ers met in executive session to elect presi-
dent. Mr.. Mcfarland was reelected 20
that office. Commissioners West and Bid
die were elected vice presidents of the
board. with authority to act in the absence
of the president. They Immediately took up
and approved the scores of District con-
tracts which have for more than three
months been awaiting the signature of
third Commissioner to make them effective
Mr.. West added his name to the signatures
q Tnc tr1Irp anfS
clogged portion Of the District machinery
was put in operation
Commissioner West found the desk III his
private office banked with flowers. Many
of the bouquets were exquisite specimens
OF the florists Skill. American Beauty roses
and fine chrysanthe NUNS formed one Of the
most massive and magnificent of the offer
ipgs sent to the new District officer.
The Annual Estimates.
Tomorrow morning it is expected the
Commissioners will, begin work upon their
annual estimates to Congress. The con-
sideration of the estimates will require
several days, and during that time the
Commissioners will excuse themselves from
all callers, except those who have urgent
business matters to present. Mr.. Macfar-
land will move that the Commissioners FOL
that is to estimate for all that is acsuaiy
required for the District service and for
appropriationsefo icafry on the permanent
projects of IMPROVEMENT. The Comm,s-
gress provide some means of long-term
payment for these permanent projects. for
it is held. that in no city are such large
undertakings as, the filtration plant and the
sewage disposal plan paid tor out Of cur
rent revenues These improvements are
for the benefit Of future generations as well
as the taxpayers of the present day and
it Is argued that the payments should be
FOL ,y,nt
period of twenty or thirty years.
By means of the enforcement of a per-
sonal property tax and the heavy Increases
made in the assessment OF real property
the revenues of the District will be largely
increased, and the Commissioners hope for
an appropriation bill next spring II Keeping
with their estimates.
No Change in the Duties.
Entering at once into the consideration of
estimates from each of the District de-
partments Commissioner West will have an
unusual and excellent opportunity of be-
coming Immediately acquainted with the
scope and needs, of each office. He will
hear the heads of departments in their ex-
plantations of the estimates to the board and
thus further come into knowledge of local
government AFFAIRS
AS has heretofore been animated In The
Star, Mr. West VIII take up the supervision
of the, departments formerly under Mr..
Ross. These include all the branches of
the assessors office. the tax Office, the po-
lice department the street clea ming depart
ment the auditors office. the disbursing
office the work house, poor house and
Washington Asylum Hospital, the law de-
partment. including the corporation coun-
sci; the public library, and the board of po-
lice and fire surgeons.
Work of Two Members.
The affairs of the District government
have been in the hands Of two Commission
ers since practically the LIST Of July. when
Congress adjourned. AT this time Commits
sioner Ross went to New York and spent
several days and then upon his return was
taken Ill July T. After an illness Of several
weeks he died At the time Of Mr.. Ross
death Col John Bfddle, the Engineer Com
missioner of-the District. was still abroad,
having gone to London to attend the coro-
nation of King Edward. So for time the
bulk Of affairs was handled by Commits
sioner mcfarland. with the assistance Of
one or the other OF the assistants to the
Engineer Commissioner
During the time the District board was
composed of two members much important
work was accomplished and there was not
a case of dissension In all the matters con-
sidered. One of the first matters taken up
by Commissioners mcfarland and Biddle
after the adjournment of Congress was in
connection with the plans for the new Dis
trict buildinGon ri &;a t.,
programa. , IF the eompstition of archi-
preliminary e, dSs,sn ~ xeiIander way. Two
introduced dnTlng the past few months.
One was the Adoption of rhe three-platoon
or eight-hour system, and the other was
the placing Of the street-crossing policemen
under the civtk Pervi9er conditions applying
to members Of the Fl regular force.
The Fuel Problem.
Commissioners MAcfarland and Ridd,e
selected the site for che new Business High
School and hsNe ofaciated at the opening
of a number ofonew public school buildings
this fall Mr.. sMacfarland has had and will
retain supervision zi6 the school DEPART
ment and boaI8 of education matters. The
Commissionerses have recently met and
dealt successfully with the fuel problem.
They conducted experiments with soft coal
and coke. ard afterwafd Mr. Macfarland
secured 500 tons Of anthracite from the
Reading Coal and Iron Company at rates
current before the strike began.
Chilean Vehicles Crude.
m regard to the character OF vehicles in