Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-16
FOR A GOVERN OR
Radical Change in Local Gov
ernment Considered.
TO CENTRALIZE POWER
PROPOSED TO ABOLISH THE
THREE COMMISSIONERS.
No Definite Plan Drawn Up, but Idea
Seriously Talked of
at. Capitol.


4 radical change in the present
form of government for the District
OF Columbia is being seriously coli-
sidered at the Capitol. The proposi
ton entails the abolition OF the OF
fees of the three District COmnis-
sioners, the appointment OF a gov
ernor and an entire reorganization
of the various departments OF inc
District government service.
No definite bill on the subject has been
drawn up as yet but it can be stated that
by many influential men in Congress it is
proposed to do away with the three Com
missioners form of government and estab-
lish instead a government of the District
under single head. According to this
proposition it is intimated that the District
will be controlled by governor, acting
under direction of Congress. The heads OF
the various departments will be given new
titles of commissioners. For instance, in
stead of superintendent of police the imme-
date head of that department will be des-
ignated as commissioner of police" Car
rying out this plan of official designation
in the other departments of the District,
there would be a commissioner of buildings,
a commissioner of fire department, a
commissioner of health, and so on. 1t
is stated that the engineering work of
the District would be under an engineer
commissioner, with the rank of captain in
the regular army, and all the commission
ers of departments would be under the su-
pervision of the governor while the whole
District service would be under the control
of Congress, as at present. 80
1t is also stated that probably lieutenant
governor would be provided for, if the plan
were to be finally adopted. The powers of
the governor, under the reported change in
form of government, would be practically
the same as those now possessed by the
three District Commissioners acting jointly.
Suffrage Not Included.
1t IS emphatically stated, however, that
the members of Congress who are consid-
eling the presentation of this proposed
change DO not contemplate for a moment
the idea of giving the people of the Dis
trict the right of suffrage. There will be
no voting for the governor. but he would
be appointed by the President The reason
advanced for the proposed change is that
those considering the proposition believe
cial affairs would be more centralized by
such a change. and that such Capitalization
would operate more economically than the
present form of government.
Just when and how the proposed changes
VIII be brought to the attention of Con-
gress is uncertain. There has been some
talk of putting the matter on as Il rider
to the District appropriation BILL
For some time there has been in Con-
gress and also among citizens of the Dis
trict much talk as to the adyisability of
some such change. Among congressman a
frequent criticism has been the divided re-
sponsibility ensuing from the three Com
missioners plan, and lately the idea of con-
centIating the responsibility has extended
itself rapidly and the proposition has been
given serious consideration in the different
committees of Congress which deal with
tae District.