The Washington times., 1903-11-06
RING RULE SHOULD GO,
DR.. REYBURN DECLARES
Opposes an AutOcracy of
Three Commissioners.
NO PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
General Principle of Local Government
Stamped by Speaker as
Dishonest.

Alleged ring rule" in the Government
of the District was assailed last night
at the regular monthly meeting of the
East End Suburban Citizens Associa-
ton without personal reflection, the
method Of administering affairs was de-
clared dishonest and augmented by the
fact that the power of the Commission
ers Is absolute and their authority al
most impregnable. The remedy pre-
scribed is the elective franchise.
municipal government by, of and for
the people.
The meeting was well attended, the
scheduled business being the election of
officers for the ensuing year. The en-
tire incumbent board was reelected, as
follows. President. William II. Ernest;
vice presidents. Hugh A. Kane. l.. ID.
Walter. &. r. Talbert. John w. Draw
ner. and J. a. Rupert; secretary. J. NJ.
Wood; treasurer, r. +. Dittoe; sergeant
alarms, Frank Ernest.
Dr. Reyburn's Views.
Before the officers were elected. how
ever, Dr. Robert Reyburn took occa-
sion to tell the members of the asso-
citation whai. ne thought of the District
government. After reviewing the his
tory of the municipality and showing
the advantages of control by the vote
of the people. he said:
This greatest republic of modern
times presents the striking anomaly u
its capital being governed by an autoc-
racy of three Commissioners invested
with absolute powers. And IL is no more
than natural that these men should use
fxr-a nj
ealIy II has been claimed that Wash
ington has shown a marked improve
ment under the present form OF gov
eminent. but such is not the case. as
reference TO the census returns viii
show.
Attacks Union Station Plan
THE statement that the government
of the District is an honest one Is alb
solutely false. 1 make no personal at
tacks or illusions but the whole thing
is managed by a ring that is perfectly
impregnable. and from which we cannot
escape.
The building of the Union Station on
the proposed site is the browning out
rage. 1t will ruin a great part of this
quarter of the city. and the idea Of our
paying a rich corporation a big bonus
for putting it there is absurd.
Then too. we suffer from an Unequal
ity Of taxation All cities suffer in this
way 10 some extent, but here we are
burdened with a systematic inequality
that fails most heavily upon the small
property holder. What we want is To-
cal suffrage. voice in our govern
ment. and opportunity to choose our
rulers, and not have them selected
by the Post and the star
Work for Privileged Few.
DR.. Reyburn- concluded with the state
nent that the greater part OF city i'm
provements were made for the privileg-
ed class. He announced he knew of
ei.tire blocks in the extreme northwest
ern section OF the city wnicn, although
not improved by buildings or any char
acter, are surrounded by streets paved
and curbed at the half cost OF the Dis
trict-
The reports Of the various committees
were submitted. covering the work OF
the past year. Progress was recorded
in the matter of lighting the consti-
tutionality Of the Union Station act
and additional funds are being sub
scribed TO defray expenses Of the suit
now pending in the Supreme Court Of
the District In the name qf Josiah Nil
lard.