Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03
CHANGES IN OFFICES
HOPE FOR DISTRICT BUILDING
INNOVATION.
Proposed Bills Approved by the Cor
poration Counsel Ready for Trans
mission to Congress.

Several important changes in offices in
the District building, which were recon-
mended by the Commissioners after recefv-
ing the report of the special committee to
investigate methods of business, it seems.
Will be accomplished. The changes can not
be made without special congressional au-
thorization, and a series of bills, making
provision for the proposed innovations, pre-
pared by the committee and vised by Cor
poraton Counsel E. H. Thomas were re-
ceived by the Commissioners today for
transmission to Congress.
The subjects treated. some of which have
been put in the form of bills, include Con
tracts for Public Works. Nomenclature
of Offices Seals of Offices ''Codification
of Municipal Laws" Charitable and Re-
form Institutions" Authorization Of Fees
and appropriations for Stationery.
More than two years ago the District
Commissioners on motion of Commissioners
Mcfarland directed an examination OF the
business methods of all the departments OF
the District government, with view TO
their improvement and unification, similar
to that which was recently ordered by Pres
ident Roosevelt for the executive depart
ments of the national government. 1t was
proposed August L, 1903. by Commissioner
Macfarland. who thought 1t the best means
of celebrating the twentyfffth anniversary
of the present form of the District govern
ment. and the Commissioners appointed,
each nominating the chief of one of the de-
partments under his immediate supervision,
as a committee of examination, Dr. w. Z.
Woodward. health officer; Mr.. John X. Gar
rison, auditor, and Mr.. Moncure Burke, sec
rotary to the Engineer Commissioner, with
DR.. William Tindall, secretary to the board
of Commissioners. as recorder. Suisse
quently, Mr.. Burke having resigned his po-
sition under the District government, Maj.
r. D. Simms property clerk, was appointed
to fill the vacancy.
Gathered Facts for a Year.
The committee spent more than a year in
securing all the facts from the heads of de-
partments and others, and from the many
laws and regulations. The I'd of December.
1904, the report, which covered more than
700 typewriter pages, was submitted. Many
Of the suggestions about which no ques-
ton could be raised and which could be
carried out by authority of the Commits
sloners, were promptly adopted. Other sug-
gestions were referred to the heads of the
departments affected, and their statements
were made the subject Of exhaustive
supplemental report by the committeeman
of which have come recommendations for
congressional action.
One of the bills which is in complete
form to present immedia tely to Congress Is
that entitled "A bill authorizing the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia, dur
ing the absence disability of any officer
of the District of Columbia, to designate
sumo otiiei oiiciai 10 III Sdid Ndcdncy anu
for other purposes The title explains the
purposes of the proposed measure Another
authorizes two of the Commissioners, that
is, one appointed from civil life and the
other appointed from the United States
army. in the enforced absence or disapi-
ity of the third member of the board, TO
enter into contracts for the District A
third of the projected measures proposes
TO permit the Commissioners to provide
seals for departments or offices under them,
and fourth authorizes them to prescribe
fees for the issue of permits and the like.