Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-01
The Commissioners Inquiry.

The commissioners have moved wisely
In their decision to conduct a general IN
hycstigation OF every branch of the District
government. Their action. however. is not
necessarily to be understood by the com
Inunity as signifying that they feel that
there Is imminent danger of corruption or
dishonesty or loss under the present meth
DDS. or that they EXPECT to find scandalous
conditions as result of this Inquiry. 1helr
sweeping scrutiny of the municipal admin
istration should be considered entirety
apart from the recent unpleasant discios-
ur.s. 1t should In fact be regarded as an
orderly. customary procedure. 1t were "eii'
indeed. If these occasional overhaulings
OF every corner of the establishment should
be looked upon as part of the scheme of
good government.
The careful, wise housekeeper takes par
ticular pains to clean house" at least
once n year, Kidding the premises of ac-
Cumulated dust and dirt and rearranglns
'her household goods with a view to more
convenient admInistrat ton of her domestic
affairs. She profits by the experience of
the past year finding new and better ways
OF doing and incidentally insuring whole
some shelter for herself and those depend
ent upon her for their comfort and health
This inquiry by the Commissioners agents.
whoever they may be, will be of this char
aCter. The housekeeper does not necessar-
lily suspect that typhoid fever or some other
plague IS lurking on the premises whenever
She turns things topsy-turvy in her zeal
for cleanliness Nor do the Commissioners
suspect that there are noisome places
IN the municipal premises to be uncovered
by this investigation.
1t is apparent. however, in the light of
the Watson defalcation and certain other
Incidents recently noted that the District
business methods may be improved With
n conservatism characteristic OF the en-
tire community the municipal government
has to certain degree preserved tradi-
t!Cns and adhered to ways and means OF
government administration which are ap-
parently outgrown and possibly danger
ously inadequate. The volume of business
has remarkably increased OF late years
The national capital is often spoken of as
little else than an "overgrown village.
This Is most distinctly untrue in the mat
ter of the conduct of its affairs Its re-
lations to the general government involve
considerations which do not elsewhere eX-
ist and necesstate a financial system of
great Complexity and delicacy. The rela-
tons between the municipal government
and the citizens. likewise. are exceptional.
1t Is in the highest degree important that
in both aspects the local administration be
brought strictly up TO date, with loose ends
caught up. openings for possible loss closed
and responsibilities adjusted to suit the
Conditions of today.
Aside from the direct benefit certain to
result from a careful inquiry by compe-
tent committee into the affairs of the
branches of the municipal administration,
this move will have It's best effect in quiet
Ing the suspicious of those who have been
led by the recent disclosures of dishonesty
and looseness Of method to question the
whole system. In no surer way could the
Commissioners allay these apprehensions
hnd set the District government straight
lefore the whole people of the capital.
Whether their findings call for corrective
legislation or not. whether they unearth
Petty frauds or not, whether they lead to
any radical changes which lie within the
scope Of the Commissioners immediate
Jurisdiction or not, this investigation Will
prove beneficial.