The Washington times., 1903-03-22

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/ Is a pleasure 10 Commissioner West 20
hnd something for worthy man 70 do.
I but it is only in the rarest instances he
can do So His sympathies are wrought
I upon greatly by applicants, but he is
obliged TO dismiss the majority with no
/ hope OF success in the fling OF their ap-
| plications.
Believes in "Clear Desk"
/ Mr.. West leaves the District Building
/ between $3.50 and $50 O'Clock in the
/ afternoon. according 10 the pressure OF
business He is a stickIer about having
I the work Of the day completed within
/ that day Before becoming Commission
er. Mr.. West was for many years a
/ newspaper man. and he still feels the
\ incubus OF he hour when the paper
/ goes 70 press upon him. He likes a clear
/ desk, and before leaving in the afternoon
/ every scrap OF business that can be done
I that day is finished This generally hap
/ pens about 4 o'clock, and Mr. West thea
\ gees out TO the golf grounds. IL the
weather is fine. for a little exercise He
| plays golf with zest. and takes great
/ pleasure in the game. He comes back
to town and dimes about $50. and has a
/ quiet hour with his family before even
/ ing engagements require attention.
Work After Work Is Over.
On the evening OF the day we are fol-
/ lowing him. Mr. West had three en-
| gagements. At O'Clock he went 10
/ the Unitarian Club 10 attend a meet
I ing where number Of prominent citi-
zens discussed important public ques-
/ tions- Mr.. West made a short address.
/ and was obliged 10 leave at o'clock
i, 20 attend a reception 20 Senator Cal
linger- That same nigh. he was in
Eited 10 attend a meeting OF citizens
OF South Washington, but was obliged
10 send his regrets.
Every night. but Saturday and sunday
I nights. Commissioner West is called
( from his home 10 attend some meeting
or meetings Sometimes he lectures.
I Sometimes he presides at one Of he or
ganizations OF which he IS a member
/ Sometimes he speaks at citizens as
/ sociation meeting. and at rare inter
/ walls he finds time for a little social re-
taxation or an evening at the play. Mr..
West has flled as many as FIVE engage
ments in one evening
Short Inspection Tours.
When business is slack at the Dis
trict Building. Commissioner West goes
out for an hour or so 10 visit one Of
/ the police precincts, or down 10 the
Washington Asylum to overlook mat
ters there These visits are short. but
( they have a double purpose. They give
! the Commissioner view OF the en-
vironment under which the public ser
vice goes on. and they give the men a
view OF their chief. Mr. West believes
! his little surprises at the station
/ houses are productive OF good results
/ in keeping quarters clean and every
thing in working order.
A 'White Wings" Incident
White Wings" occasionally comes IN
/ for visit from the Commissioner One
day the latter noticed a member of the
street cleaning force idIing away bfz
time. White Wings evidently did not
know Mr.. West. as the incident happen-
/ ed few weeks after his appointment
! as Commissioner. Mr.. West saw that
/ the man left seveEsl pieces of paper On
/ the pavement. The cleaner walked nasr
\ the paper three or four times but sfiU
\ left it. This was too much FOR the Com
missioner. He got out of his carr,aza
and asked the man why he did not take
Jp the paper. With the usual imperti.
nence of the experienced .Whits
/ Wings" he replied:
4 'spects to take it up when I gets
I good and ready
I The Commissioner said rather forco-
fully:
You take up that paper aud do it
row"
White Wings looked at the Commits
siOner. about TO return a saucy reply.
when il began 20 dawn on him who the
/ peremptory citizen was who was criti-
cising his work
white Wings became animated at
once The paper was taken up and as
the helmet came on the wOolly head, The
man said:
Il axes yore p, Ion. boss"
Mr.. West rem:.-a-sd the man that ne
was employed 20 clean the street aad
not 10 slight his work
white Wings reported to the in
| spector later:
Il clare 10 goodness I was scared"
The incidents described and many
others like them make up the daily
routine OF the Commissioner He leads =
busy life. and II Is only by strict at
tention 10 duty as il arises that he
enabled TO finish each days work u
keep abreast OF the endless rout
his Office.