Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-20
LEGISLATION NEEDED
COMMITTEES SUGGESTIONS TO BE
FRAMED INTO Law.
Commissioner Macfarland's Motion Re
garding Recommendations on Dis
trict Business Methods.

Commissioner Macfarland today took
steps toward turning to practical use the
recent final report and recommendations
submitted by the committee which, since
August IL, 1908, has been examining into
the business methods OF all departments OF
the District government. 1t is found that
many of the recommendations Of the COM
mittee cannot be carried into effect without
new legislation. and 1t was with a view to
securing some such laws as those deemed
necessary that the Commissioner made one
comprehensive motion embodying the fol-
lowing:
Contracts for public works.. That an
effort be made to secure an amendment to
section of the organic act Of June IL:
1878, so as to provide that in the event OF
the disability of either OF the Commits
sioners appointed from civil life, whereby
he may be prevented from performing the
duties of his office for so long period as TO
cause serious embarrassment to public IN
terests, the remaining two Commissioners
may enter into contracts for the execution
or the public work specified in the fore
named section.
For Proper Titles.
Nomenclature of officers.-3. That an
effort be made to procure legislation as
signing to each office and department Of the
District government a title indicative of the
work Of such Office or department and of the
status of the office in the general scheme Of
municipal organization.
Seals of Offices. That wherever it ap-
pears desirable that any Office or depart
ment of the District government should use
seal in the transaction of it's official bust
ness, an effort should be made to obtain leg
islation authorizing the adoption and use of
appropriate seal by such Office or de-
partment.
Qualification of municipal laws That
an effort be made to procure legislation pro-
v.ding for the codification of all laws Of a
municipal character which are operative
within the District of Columbia.
Authorization of deputies. That ex-
press provision be made with respect to the
head of each Office and department of the
District government whereby, during his alb
sence or disability, designated officer can
lawfully act in his place.
Charitable and Reformatory Institutions.
20. That disbursements In aid Of all char
liable and reformatory institutions be made
by the disbursing officer Of the District OF
Columbia, instead of making advances to
the fiscal officers of such institutions.
In the opinion of the committee 1t would
be in harmony with the provisions of the
organic act and subsequent acts Of Con-
propriations for the general expenses OF
the Districs of Columbia that the dis
bursement Of the appropriations herein
before referred to, should be made by the
disbursing officer of the District. Should
this be done, provision could be made in
the annual contracts whereby these institu-
lions could purchase supplies at contract
rates. which. 1t Is believed, would be
measure of economy, and, Furthermore, the
auditor of the District would be enabled to
state the actual net disbursements from
District appropriations on account Of these
institutions. whereas. under the existing
practice. the auditors books merely show
the advances made to the treasurers or ifs
cal officers of said institutions and their
payments to appropriations made by them.
Fees and Stationery.
Authorization of Fees.-2s. That an eff
fort be made to secure legislation prescrib-
ing the fees to be charged for the issue Of
permits and for other services, in cases in
which charges of this character appear to
the Commissioners to be desirable, but In
which such charges are not now prescribed
by law: or, that legislation be asked au-
thorizing the Commissioners to prescribe
and to collect fees in such cases.
appropriation for Stationery.-34. That
an effort be made by the Commissioners to
secure a general appropriation for the pur-
chase of stationery and Office supplies for
the use Of the various departments. offices
and institutions under the District govern
ment. other than the public schools; the APP
preparations to be made for the contingent
expenses Of such departments. offices and
institutions being reduced in proportion to
the estimated cost of stationery and office
supplies necessary for the same; such sta
tionery to be kept in stock and issued by
the property clerk upon acquisitions from
the heads of the several departments, Of
fees or institutions requiring the same"