Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-02

"A 10 GXlSIluS Law 4SS6sS
ed as ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
Status of Each Office.
The long-expected report of the commit
tee appointed by the Commissioners TO ex-
anime into the business methods IN vogue
in the various branches of the District serV-
ice and suggest improvements was present
ed to the Commissioners today. Inc re-
port of the committee has been awaited
with more than usual interest by all the
officials and employees of the District gov
eminent, and by the citizens of the mu-
nicipality as well, as it is the first time in
twenty-five years that an examination into
the District service has been made.
The committee consists of Health officer
William c. Woodward, Auditor John r.
Garrison and Property Clerk R. D. Simms.
The members, with the exception of Major
Simms, who was appointed on the COM
mittee in January of this year to succeed
Mr.. Moncure Burke. have been engaged on
the work since August 1903
The three members of the committee were
at the District building all of last night
working on their report, and at $40 o CLOCK
this morning they completed their WORK
and rested from their labors. The strain
under which the committee has lately per-
formed it's task is considered as something
unusual, and each member OF the commit
tee today received hearty CONGRATULATIONS
from the Commissioners, as well as WOfds
of praise and appreciation, over their eff1-
cient work in the examination. Many COM
plimentary comments have been MADE at
the District building by various officials on
the faithful manner in which Auditor Car
rison has held to his task in this investiga-
ton. His ability to work constantly until
l~xv 1,a, hDAy, nov
sidered as remarkable in man of his
years. In fact, DR.. Woodward and MAJ.
Simms, the younger members OF the COM
mittee have likewise been praised for their
powers of endurance.
Work of the Committee.
The full report Of the committee COM
prises nearly 100 typewriter pages, and IN
addition to the recommendations concern
ing improvements in each department In
the District government the report contains
a detailed statement of the methods en-
ployed in the departments in transacting
the public business of the municipality.
There are no startling innovations recon-
mended by the committee; no glaring or
alarming defects were discovered; put IN
practically every branch of the service the
committee has found some practices ana
methods that in it's opinion, require cor
rection. Changes are recommended with
reference to making contracts Tor pupuc
works, designation of District ofhces, pro
Indicating regulations, classification of Dis
trict records and laws, collection and ac-
counting for water rents and taxes, dls-
bursement of appropriations for charitapie
and refOrmatory institutions, the making
of bonds in addition to numerous changes
in methods Of conducting the Districts bus
mess in the various Offices.
MI. Macfarlandss Comment.
Commissioner Henry B. F. mcfarland,
president of the board Of District Commits
sioners, in commenting upon the examining
committees report sid the work Of the
members in getting up the report. today
said:
methods of the different branches of the
District service and suggest improvements
appointed by the Commissioners last year,
is entitled to great credit for the thorough
ness with which tihas performed its enor-
nous task. Last year was the twenty-ffth
anniversary of the establishment of the per-
manent form of government Of the District
I saw no better way Of celebrating that an
niversary than by having such commit
tee appointed to go carefully through the
entire District service, with all Its fifty
branches great and small. ascertain the
actual methods employed, and recommend
to the Commissioners such improvements
as they might be able to suggest.
This was an undertaking that could not
be accomplished in any other way. The
Commissioners, more and more pressed as
the business of the District government in
creases. could not possibly do it themselves.
Therefore each Of them appointed repre-
sentative on this committee, who has
worked zealously to accomplish the end In
view. k5
''The Commissioners are grateful to the
committee for the way in which they have
carried out their instructions. Latterly they
worked until midnight so as to keep up with
their regular duties and yet perform this
special duty. Last night they worked all
night The iS long 11v
and full of detail, and 1t will take the Com
missiOners some time to pass upon it's rec
concentrations. Those Which they approve
will be adopted, and carried out, either by
recommendation for legislation by Congress
or by COMMISSIONERS orders
General Recommendations.
Under the general recommendations for
improvements in the District service are
noted the following suggestions:
That the laws be amended so that in case
one of the civil Commissioners is unable to
perform his duties for considerable period
the two remaining Commissioners may
enter into contracts for the execution Of
the public works.
That, except in case Of emergency, regu-
lations and amendments to existing regula-
lions made by the Commissioners be pro-
mulgated only at stated intervals, to be
fixed by the Commissioners.
That legislations bet.procured designating
the status of each Office or department in
the District service. officially distinguish
ing between office" and department"
That legislation be obtained authorizing the
adoption and<use of an appropriate seal by
such offices or departments as should need
to use seals
That an effort be made to procure legisla-
ton providing for the codifcation Of all
laws of q municipal character which are
operative within the District of Columbia
At present these laws are contained in
many distinct ana dissimilar volumes some
of which are so rare and SO widely dis
bursed as to be practically inaccessible to
the public. 1t ii therefore obvious that the
codification recommended should be made
with the least avoidable delay.
That an appropriation be secured for the
purpose of classifying all the District rec
ords. That express provision be made so
that when the head of any department is
absent from his Office, q designated officer
can lawfully act In his place; that all per-
sons in the service of the District who are
continuously employed but paid by the day
be placed on the regular roll at annual SAL
arSos
Specific Statement to Be Made.
The committee also recommends that
whenever any appointee Of the Commission
ers is, In additiono to his stated salary. to
receive at public expense board, lodging