Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06
road Company on the 1st of July next be In
cluded in this permanent arrangement.
District Day at Louisiana Purchase Elk

District Day at Louisiana Purchase Elk.
position.
The Commissioners having been invited
| by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition tt
/ celebrate a District Of columbia day at the
| Exposition in st. Louiss named Wednesday
| October 10, 1904, and appointed commit.
tee of arrangements, consisting Of John w
| Douglass. chairman; Berry Buckley. secre-
tary: w. " Cox, George H. Harries, L. g.
| Hine, s. H Kauffmann. Frank A. Munsey
| Myron M. Parker, Flank K. Raymond
George TruesdeH. and John F. wilkins.
! This committee, in co-operauon with the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, prepared a
| programme, which was successfully exc
| cuted At 10 o'clock on the morning OF
| District day the Commissioners, accompa-
MED by the president and other officers OF
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, by the
| national commission, and the United States
| Government Board, and escorted by the
| committee of arrangements and a military
procession; consisting kof United States
| Marine Band, the Philippine constabulary
| and band, and the JEFFERSON Guards, were
conducted to the United States Govern
| ment building, which had been designated
as their headquarters for the day by the
United States Government Board. After
reviewing the procession the Commissioners
held general reception In the center of the
Government building, while the Marine
J o'clock In the afternoon exercises were held
in the hall Of the Missouri State building
(near the United States Government build
ing), which the Missouri State commission
had placed at the disposal of the commit
tee of arrangements.
The chairman Of the committee Of ar
rangements presided, and addresses were
delivered by the president of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition, representatives of the
national commission, and the United States
Government board, and the president of the
Board of Commissioners of the District of
Columbia. The Marine Band furnished mu-
SIC. The celebration of District of Column
bia day at st. Louis brought the National
Capital, Its history, it's attractions, and it's
needs distinctly before the country. and
thereby it is believed was beneficial to it's
interests. Is
Committee to Suggest Improvements in
the District Service.
AS stated in the Immediately preceding
annual report the Commissioners on Au-
gust II. 1903, appointed committee to ex-
anime all the departments of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia and re-
port on their methods of doing business
with a view to suggesting improvements,
officer; John r. Garrison, auditor, and
Moncure Burke of the engineer depart
ment, with DR.. William Tindall, secretary
to the Board of Commissioners. as record
the service of the District and R. D.
Simms, property clerk. was appointed in
his stead.
All the members of this committee labor
ed diligently at their great task, and as
they did not neglect their regular duties
they had to give much time at night and
on holidays. They have. submitted their
report with recommendations for the i'm
provement of business methods and it will
receive the careful confederation of the
Commissioners with a vidw to making i'm
provements in the business methods Of the
District service. 1t may be necessary for
the Commissioners to recommend addition
al legislation to Congress for this purpose.
In the course of twenty-five years since
the establishment Of the permanent form
of government of the District of Columbia
the District service has grown with the
growth of the District, and there has been
much legislation by congressional enact
ment and by orders of the Commissioners
under the authority granted them by Com
gress for the administration Of the Dis
tricts affairs which may need revision
AS the different branches Of the District
government have been added to from time
to time and as new functions have been
given the District government. different
methods of transacting the public business
have been adopted. It is desirable to Sc
cure uniformity and to make such improve
ments as will increase the efficiency of the
service.
Civil Service.
Inc commissioners renew their recon-
mendation that Congress enact a civil
service law for the District government,
which Is not, under the uniform decisions
Of the Supreme Court of the United States.
a part of the National Government, and
therefore is not entitled to the benefits of
the United States civil-service act. The
Commissioners have maintained merit sys-
tenn of appointment and promotion, and
through the courtesy of the United States
(fXyf1 mil 1,ar,
examinations for admission to the police
and fire departments and In special in
stances examinations for admission to other
departments, but they very much desire the
establishment of permanent civil-service
system by law, which would place the Dis
trict OF Columbia On an equality with the
Departments of the National Government in
this respect. The municipal services in most
Of the large cities of the country are now
under civil-service laws and there Is gem
eral agreement that they are benefited
thereby.
Substitute for Civil Commissioner.
The Commissioners call attention once
more to the absence of any provision for q
substitute to act for either of the civil Com
missioners In case of disability or pending
vacancy. There are two assistants to the
engineer Commissioner (and third might
be detailed, under the law, either Of whom
may act as Commissioner in the absence of
sAiO NoihiiiiSSlOHei, Willie Il6re is
no one to take the place of an absent civil
Commissioner, and IL both the civil Com
missioners should be unable to act there
would be serious interruption in the opera
ton of the District government, since a
majority Of the Board Is required for the
transaction of business. Therefore the Com
missioners have recommended that the
office OF the secretary of the District of CO.
lumbia be re-established, with power in its
incumbent to act temporarily in the place of
either of the civil Commissioners In case of
disability or death.
The Commissioners also recommend that
the law be amended so as to provide that
contracts for construction work, like ali
other contracts, shall be valid when signed
by majority of the Board Of Commission-
ers instead of requiring as at present. the
signature OF all three Of the Commissioners.
Military Academy Appointments.
Congress has approved, the recommends
ton of the Commissioners that the District
should have two representatives at the
Naval Academy instead of one. and 1t is
hoped that 1t will approve the similar
recommendation In regard to the Districts
representation at the Military Academy.
The unique character OF the District, the
size of its populations, and the fact that It
mas no other regular opportunities for its
sons to reach the Military Academy. war
rant, 1t is believed, such action by Con-
gress.
Public Schools.
The public schools, the most important I'm
terest of the District of Columbia raoufr,nc