Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06
The Commissioners Report.

A generally healthful municipal condition
Is disclosed by the annual report of the Dis
trict Commissioners, submitted to the Presi-
dent and by him transmitted to Congress.
| 1t Is long and exhaustive document, re-
| plete with intimate details of the municipal
| administration during the year and sug-
gestve of thorough system of supervision
by the Commissioners over the various SUBJ
| ordinate departments of the local govern
ment.
| The most urgent note of recommendation
| in the report Is that asking that steps be
taken by Congress at once to adjust the
financial relations of the District to the
general government. The case is already
familiar to all Westinghouse and to some
members of Congress, and 1t is to be hoped
that this report, coupled with the state
ments published yesterday in connection
with the action of the Secretary of the
Treasury in cutting down the local esti-
mates, will complete the task of persuadng
the houses that the present situation Is
anomalous and undesirable
A thorough reading of the report will
| show to any person that the District is in
the process of regeneration; that it is being
| brought up to date in its physical equip
ment; that it is expanding money at lib
| the capital city. in point of schools public
buildings of all classes, agencies for pro-
lection and sanitation. and in those essen
tial non-essentials of an esthetic nature
which distinguish capital city from all
others 1t is catching up with the accumu-
lated needs of a century of comparative
neglect and at the same time striking out
t. reach the ideal of its founders.
The result should be to demonstrate to
every member of Congress that the District
is a large community; that it's affairs are
complex and that it's administration is a
difficult task. 1t has a larger population
than any of these states and territories:
Utah, Montana. Delaware, New Mexico,
Idaho. Hawaii. Arizona, Wyoming. Alaska,
Nevada. 1t has, indeed, larger population
than the three last named combined 1t is
rapidly growing, despite the lack of indus
tries such as elsewhere attract large num-
bers of people. 1t is maintaining a. high
standard of citizenship, of intelligence, of
public spirit and of physical and moral
health Its agencies for the correction and
cure of evils are numerous and efficient.
Much that the Commissioners report has
to do with the details of work yet to be ac-
complished. Certain additional laws are re-
quired which when enacted will, the Com
missioners believe, go far toward bringing
Washington up to standard.
This annual report does not specifically
mention, but in numerous ways bears in
ternal evidence of, the alert and continuous
interest of the average citizen in the well
fare of the community. There is today rs
never before a close cooperation between
| the Commissioners and the people. Despite
the lack of suffrage, the will of the gov
erned is exerted here. to the limits of the
situation, as perhaps in few other cities
| There is now heretofore. a wholesome
| participation by the residents in the shap-
ing of their own municipal destines, and in
| the campaign of the winter for the securir g
of proper laws for the capitals government
there will continue to be presented to Con-
gress a practically solid front of public
opinion in Endorsement of what the Com
missioners urge in their official document.