The Washington times., 1903-03-22
T. HIS article will depict a busy day
with Henry Litchheld Vest,
Cnrnnnincinnor nf thn nIatrint

HIS article VIII depict busy day
with Henry Litchheld Vest,
Commissioner of the District.
1t is generally supposed that the posi-
tion which Mr. West holds. with its
comfortable salary of IS 900 per annum.
and horse and carriage TO carry him
to and from the labors of the day, is
Bomething to be desired. The Commits
.sioner. however. earns his salary. and
could they experience a month of the
same daily grind many Washingtonians
probably would come TO the conclusion
they would not take the position II IT
were offered them.
Commissioner West lives at 1864 Har-
ward Street. Mount Pleasant. and one of
the illustrations represents him leaving
for his office in the morning This he
does at the drop OF the hat each day at
9:15 o'clock. The driver has positive
orders to be there at that minute. and
as regularly as the time comes round
Mr.. West may be seen descending the
steps of his home. He greets the driver
pleasantly. and stepping into the coupe
is driven rapidly down Fourteenth
Street.
In Office Promptly at e:4s Each Day.
The Commissioner reaches the Dis
trict Building at 9:45 O'Clock. From the
time he alights from the carriage un-
til he reaches his Office he greets
dozen of the District employees and a few
acquaintances from the outside world
whom he meets in the corridors.
In anticipation OF his coming the
heavy oak desk has been opened by
Louis Wilson. Mr.. Vests secretary. and
the morning mail has been arranged for
him. Alfred Moss. the messenger. is on
hand 10 take charge Of the Commission
er's hat and coat, and 10 look after his
personal wants.
First Work Is Opening Letters.
The first task OF the day is 10 20 over
the mail, which is done rapidly. secre-
tary Wilson stands beside the desk with
his note book. and takes down the dicta-
tion, as Mr.. West reads his letters and
answers them on the spot In case
communication requires a little investi-
cation or more consideration than can
be given it on the spur of the moment.
1t is laid aside to be taken up later In
the day
Before the secretary leaves him Mr.
West is acquainted with any unfinished
business requiring attention. Matters
left over from the day before are
brought 10 mind. and arrangements
made for their consideration. Board
meetings are noted. and the work of
the day laid out that nothing can
Interfere with necessary appointments.
Then Come Crowds of Callers.
In the meantime large number of
callers have assembled in the ante-room
and must be seen one after another.
These represent the public. and come
with complaints. congratulations. search
for appointments, and almost everything
in the category of human want The
larger number are compIainants. who
ask the Commissioner TO look after some
defect in public administration. The
nature OF the complaint is recorded, and
II is Immediately referred 70 the proper
department for consideration and re-
port. In Mr. Vests departments come
complaints about the garbage, ash col
lections. tax payments. and matters re-
lating TO the auditing and paying OF
bills. About twenty OF these complaints
are talked over each day and disposed
OF
II Is the practice Of the Commissioners
20 see every person who calls upon them.
They believe this 10 be due 10 the pub
lie, Generally the interviews are brief.
and persons calling come 10 the point at
once and discharge the business in hand
promptly In this way a large number
OF callers can be seen and talked with
FOL- each morning.
On the day which is being described
Mr.. West met fifteen callers between
1890 and II o'clock One OF these came
IN, laboring under some Indignation be-
cause the tax department would not
listen to his plea for the cancellation of
The interest and costs upon an item of |
overdue taxes dating back some fifteen
years. Mr. West tOck the statement of
the complainant. and told him the mat
ter would be carefully considered and
reported 10 him. Since that dav the
case has been investigated. and way
was found to relieve the property from
the accumulated interest and costs con- |
7ected with the ts,r
Another caller had = complaint against
the Police Department. the policeman
requiring him to remove a sign from a |
fence in front of his property. This
case was also taken under consideration
by the Commissioners and report
promised later.
On Widely Different Missions.
The next caller was personal friend |
OF the Commissioner who dropped in to |
talk with him few minutes about some
social matters. The caller remained |