Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-07
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
Investigating Committee Preparing to
Make Report Shortly.

The committee appointed by the Commits
sioners during August, 1908, to examine into
the various departments of the District gov
eminent and suggest improvements in the
service and in the business methods of the
departments will probably be ready to SUBJ
nit it's report on the investigation about
November 10. The members of the exam
lining committee, consisting of Health Of
ficer w. S. Woodward Auditor John R.Garri-
son and Property Clerk r. d. Simms, for the
past two weeks have been working on the
investigation and the preparation of the re-
port as late as IL o'clock each night, and
they expect to have the report completed
by the middle of this month.
1t is ascertained that the committee has
completed it's examination into the various
District Offices about fifty in ALL and IS
compiling the data gathered, for the re-
view of the Commissioners. 1t Is under
stood that the committee has collected all
the laws and regulations enacted during
the last twenty-five years, and has collated
these laws and regulations with respect to
their bearing upon each District Office. The
business methods of each department have
been inquired into, and the committee, in
its report will suggest not only improve
ments in business methods, but will also
recommend such amendments to laws and
regulations as seem advisable.
1t is stated that there is an immense bulk
of laws and regulations relating to the du-
ties and affairs of the District offices. These
have been enacted by Congress, by the
old legislative assembly of the District by
the councils of the old-time Washington
and Georgetown municipal governments
and by the District government as organic
ed yer twenty-five wears ago.
Commissioner Macfarland, upon whose
recommendation the examining committee
was appointed believes that the forthcom-
ing report of the c0mmittee will be one of
great value and Will lead to improvements
of great Importance to the interests of the
District The Commissioners, from this in
vestigation will benena bled to ascertain the
best business methods employed in any sim
gle Office of the government, and they will
be enabled to establish some uniform meth
cd throughout the District service for hand
ling District affairs. n
The work of the examining committee, 1t
is stated. has been onerous, and great care
has been given to 1t by the members. The
detailed report of, the committee will be
voluminous but it Is expected that they will
prepare a synopsis of the mass Of informa-
ton collected so that the public may De
able to easily form an adequate idea of the
defects found andnthe suggestions for i'm
provementS.
In the course of their investigation, it is
stated. the committee has met with many
amusing as well as many difficult situa-
lions The old and fateful James Creei.
canal it is understood, has been brought to
the attention of the committee during its
examination into the anairs of the District
property yard, located near the canal.
The story is told that while the commit
tee was questioning Mr.. H. NJ. Dickinson,
who has charge of the property yard, with
regard to his duties, he replied that one
of his principal duties Is pulling people out
of the James Creek canal. During the G,
A. r. encampment held here several years
ago, 50 Mr.. Dickinson told the committee,
he pulled no less than eight persons out of
the James Creek canal.
It is not known whether or not the canal
will be made the subject of a chapter in
the committees report, but 1t is agreed
among District officials that great i'm
provement might be made with respect to
this cause of SO many unfortunate acct
dents. 1t has been suggested that the gov
eminent might well establish l,fe saving
station at this point.