Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-29
EXPRESSIONS OF SORROW.

by her SON.
EXPRESSIONS OF SORROW.
Associates in Board Of Commissioners
and Others Deplore Death.
District officials generally today expressed
the deepest sorrow and regret upon hear
ing the news of Commissioner Ross death.
All the heads of departments expressed
themselves very much alike; there was but
one note to their remarks-deep-seated ted,
thorough grief Commissioners Macfarland
and Biddle feel the loss severely, and pay
tribute to their associate as they knew
him. Mr.. E. G. Davis, the collector of
taxes; Mr.. H. H. Darneille, the assessor:
Mr.. c. c. Rogers, the disbursing officer;
Mr.. ]. T. Petty, the auditor; DR. William
Tindall, secretary to the board; Francis
Nye, now a member of the board of per-
sonal tax appraisers and formerly private
secretary to Mr.. Ross; the heads of de-
partments in the engineer division the
members of the board of assistant asses
sors, Major Sylvester of the police depart
ment. Chief button of the fire department,
Mr.. A. b. Duvall the corporation counsel
all expressed to a Star reporter the personal
loss which they feel they have incurred in
the death of Commissioner Ross.
Mr.. Macfarland's Tribute.
never with DEATH said Commissioner Mac
farland today in speaking of Mr. Ross
demise, "and so, although 1 feared that
Commissioner Ross could not live, the mes
sage that he had gone came with a shock.
All my life long, from the time / was a
little boy had known Mr.. Ross and dur
ing the past few years had been In the
closest relations with him. SO that l have
a deep feeling of personal loss The charm
nf
position, appealed strongly to me as to
every one else No man In the District had
more friends, and no man in public life
had fewer enemies. 1t is not possible in
the commissionership tozkeep from making
either enemies or mistakes Disappoin ted peo-
pie must always be numerous among the
thousands who come to the District build
ing with requests during the year But
the dlslnterested. and even the disappointed,
as well as those who were gratified by his
official acts, had a peculiar feeling of re-
gard for Commissioner Ross. This feeling
amounted to positive affection in many of
the oHlclals and employees who owed their
entrance or promotion in the service to Mr.
Ross, and in many others who owed him
nothing, but were attracted by his personal
qualities 1t goes without saying that he,
like all the former Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia, was an able honest
faithful and patriotic man. Without ex-
ception, the Commissioners have measured
up to a very high standard of character
missioners has had much to do with the
great success of the District government
But we think first of the geniality, courtesy
and Kindness of Commissioner Ross.
Public Service of High Order.
HIS public service was of a high order.
Leaving out what he did in other relations,
the work that he did for the. District of CO.
lumbia, first as school trustee and president
OF the board of school trustees, and after
ward, In almost twelve years Of service, as
commissioner, uneXampled In duratio
mas placed us under a lasting obliga-
ton OF gratitude. The duties of the
commissionership have grown more and
more exacting. Without doubt the strain
or them broke down Commissioner Ross,
ana MS death is as directly due to his
service as If he had died on the field of bat
Tie. he wanted to die in the full perform
ance or public duty, but we ought never to
forget that 1t cost him his life The inces-
SAINT, various and vexatious appeals to the
commissioners Tor all sorts of things occu
p!ed SO much of his day that he habitually
d1d much of the more important work of
MS once at home at night. During the last
session or Congress, when the Commission
ers, besides all the office work. including
the visits of fnnumerable office seekers and
the frequent board hearings of citizens,
were so constantly engaged at the Capital
or at their Offices In conferences with sena-
tors and representatives over the import
ant legislation due to the crisis in the Dis
trlcts affairs, Mr.. Ross strength was ia
tally Impaired. The function Of the Com
mlssloners IN passing upon all legislation
respecting the District referred to them
by the committees of Congress of itself
takes much time and thought, but the more
active work Of recommending to the COM
mlttees IN personal conference the appro-
pr1atlons and the legislation that ought to
be enacted, taxes the strongest man. Most
people think only of the executive work of
the commissioners. and have no adequate
knowledge OF Its extent, SO that they do not
appreciate what demands are made upon
the Commissioners in representing the Dis
trlct before Congress Very little Of that
work appears In the newspapers. Commits
sioner Ross was as popular at the Capitol
mourned by all the leaders in Congress,
without regard to party. 1t is great loss
that we have met today"
Col. Biddle's Comment.
Col. John Biddle, the Engineer Commits
sioner, said: Il -oa
The death of Commissioner Ross is
great grief to me. Prepared to like him by
the many kindly expressions of all about
MIN when first came with therDistrict, he
grew IN my personal affection more ana
more as time went on. . The quality that
chleny endeared him to me and by which
shall mostly remember him was that of a
charm which made his companionship al
ways oeilghtful, SO that It was constant
pressure 10 De With him and to talk To
MIN: His intimate knowledgesef the Dis
trlct government, Congress and the needs
OF the District, with his legal knowledge
and hne ability made his ADVICE of great
Vaiue, and l sought it ain ost daily and 1t
always greatly helped me-
me pubic services Of Commissioner
Ross are Wen known and will be long re.
mempered A public officer departs and
goes on, but the personal loss is never
niied, the friend who dies is never re-
placed. and 1t will be always one of the
pleasures OF my service to have been
thrown In contact with Commissioner Ross,
ana one OF my sorrows to have so early
and suddenly lest him.
Districts Great Loss.
I'm the death of Commissioner Ross,
said Mr.. Duvall the corporation counsel.
the District of Columbia has suffered a
distinct loss. OF the so-called District tri-
umvirate," he always had the ,enviable dis
tinction OF being regarded as the tribune
OF the people. transformations in manner
ana friendly In disposition, he gained the
aHection Of those with whom he came In
contact; an acquaintanceship with him left
the impression of friendship established. He
Drought to the discharge Of his duties as
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