Evening star., 1903-07-22

rily on their rack this aged and honest and
careful public servant. 1t will be only a
blot upon their record thus to do. More
over were they seeking to make secure the
public funds in the future through In
creased carefulness. no man could be posi-
bly, selected likely to be a 1.-THE as careful
hereafter as the experienced officer who
has lately suffered evident agony in view OF
what has happened His honesty never
even questioned by the Commissioners
would new man be likely to prove more
honest! Better reap the full benefit of
what has happened by retaining their vete-
ran offlcer. who hereafter would be alert to
watch against fraud as never before 1t is
mistake to think that good principle or
good pubic policy or the reputation of the
District government demands the sacrifice
OF this gentleman. Public demand on the
part or good citizens surely does not. Our
commissioners. who are men. I am conf
dent. OF high impulses, should not make this
huge mistake. Public opinion will support
them 1ully In retaining this officer.
nave no personal feeling in this mat
ter: have no acquaintance with Mr. Petty.
But have some regard for righteous
action. Let the golden rule apply.a
GEORGE V. LEECI
To the Editor of The Evening Star,
note by an article in the morning paper
that the removal Of Auditor Petty has been
finally determined upon by the Commits
s1oners and his successor selected. l am
one who hoped that the Commissioners
iiiEhl IecollSldef tlelr frSt determine ton to
take such a step. and retain this valuable
oi11cer In the position he has filled with
such credit to himself and usefulness to the
DIstflct Tor so many years. 1t has not
seemed to me because a subordinate has
proven dishonest and betrayed his conf
dence that 1t is just. right, to hold him
responsible. Such a course is not usual In
BUSINESS corporations. and why 1t should
apply in this instance I do not understand
Mr. Pettys service to the taxpayers, in
whose interest much has recently been said,
has been great. and entities him to the ap-
probation and confidence Of the people In
In the discharge Of his duties have saved
the taxpayers many times the amount
which dishonest employe recently sue
ceeded In miSappropriating. These. services
are now apparently forgotten and we hear
little but criticism for the alleged careless
ness In the administration of the office,
which made possible this wrong doing. 1t
seems to me that it has been clearly shown
that the charge of carelessness is wholly
unfounded and unjust, and. further, that
the methods governing the handling of the
funds were not of Mr.. Petty's origin, but
that they were established by his superiors
In office and given to him to carry out only.
Mr. Petty has been an exceptionally valua-
BILE official. one whose service has been of
exceptional value to the District He is a
splendid, manly man. possessing all the
qualifications for the office. and there is
absolutely no reason in my Judgment for his
removal. 1t seems to me that such course
is wholly uniustifed and brutal. The re-
sponsibility for the wrong-doing attaches
to the Commissioners office as much as to
the auditors. Watson was their subordi-
nate as much as the auditors
E. w. BRADFORD.