The Washington times., 1903-08-01

intended to be used, and never, as a
matter of fact, delivered, we said;
All this. We maintain, is wrong. 1t is essen
TALLY fraudulent. Il conceals something. II
is intended to deceive. 1t is irregular and I'M
business like. 1t would not be tolerated for an
instant by any reputable business concern. It
makes Just such men as Watson possible. 1t
sets bad example, and, il eondoned by those
in high authority. invites On the part OF sub
ordinates a juggling with accounts and
manipulation OF figures designed to mislead the
taxpayer 1t cannot be stopped too promptly.
Summing up, on July o, some of
Ite more fragrant instances of mis-
government and declaring that 'the
District government seems TO stand in
need of a thorough overhauling," we
said:
But they 1.-THE Commissioned should not stop
here They should push vigorously the work Of
reform Il is needed; needed badly. The
whole machinery Of cur District government
wants oyerhauling. 1t wants 20 be gone over
and strengthened. There are too many parts
upon which the light has not been turned for
long time. weakness in spots has been
eonspicuously demonstrated within the last few
weeks
And further on we declared that
ian overhauling Of the District gov
eminent cannot begin too soon. or be
too thorough"
On July 9, commenting upon the
propriety Of the proposed Mckenzie
appointment, we remarked:
The discovery that Alexander Mckenzie. while
Deputy Auditor, approved scores Of vouchers,
aggTegating thousands of dollars. for payment
to the Washington Asphalt Block and Tile
Company, Of which company he was, and still
remains, secretary, illustrates what The Times
has contended over and over again-that the adj
ministration Of the District stands in need Of a
thorough overhauling.
Speaking Of some recent discIos-
ures, illustrating in striking, man
ner the lax methods in vogue in the
District building, we ventured the as
sertion on July 13:
Yet. after all is said. it must be admitted
that the administration Of District affairs is
susceptible TO Improvement To maintain that
1t is not is to invite stagnation and decay.
To hold that IL is above criticism is TO atteIpUt
TO foist upon the community a system of GOV
eminent abhorrent to American ideas. and 10 SET
the DEGREES Of clique above the voice Of
public opinion.
The attitude Of The Times on this
question of reform in District gov
eminent methods is accurately re-
flected IN these and other extracts we
could quote. The action of the Com
missioners yesterday in ordering an
inquiry with the view to improving
those methods vindicates the correct
ness Of our contentious.
The silence Of our evening contem.
porary on the subject, while signif-
cant, perhaps, is eloquent, also. of its
cynical contempt for reform and of
its devotion TO the tenets of an ..un-
selfish and warm-hearted philanthro-
py.' The practice of that philanthro-'
Ply, we need not remind e'lr readers.
does not permit a reform of the pub
he service, involving henchmen and
hangers-on. 1t does not allow pat.
rons Of an Office brokerage business
to be dealt with unfeelingly. 1t does
not cOncede that public office Is not
a private snap" 1t does not sum
marty deny that the District, to-
gether with all it contains. Is not ere
ated for the benefit of the "Star."
Occasionally, however-not often,
perhaps-some one arises to try con-
clusions with this thrifty exponent Of
an ''unseliish and wa1m-hearted phi
lanthrOpy.' And then-why, you
can cut the silence with a knife. YOU
can fill it full of holes.