The Washington herald., 1907-06-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

affairs
In practice. the Commissioners have (
the people in their admins /
tration and in their legislation, under the 1
power delegated TO them by Congress. /
and have welcomed all expressions Of /
opinion by citizens, organized or unor- /
ganized They have represented the citi- |
zens also In dealing with Congress, sit |
ting with the committees In charge of /
District affairs. preparing bills, or re- |
porting upon bills referred 70 them by the /
committees, as is done IN /
the case Of all bills not proposed by the /
and also reporting to the 4
President upon all District bills passed 4
by Congress before he acts upon them. /
Every opportunity is given for the pres /
Of the needs Of the national /
capital and the views Of its citizens TO /
Congress.
Big Business Corporation.
The Senators and Representatives. and /
especially the chairmen OF the commit |
tees dealing with District affairs. con
slider themselves the representatives Of |
the District on the floor Of the Senate |
and the House, and give much time and /
thought and effort 10 the Districts inter /
ests. In all this they do not act as par
tisans, because they are not appealed to
as partisans. since there is no political
division among the people Of the District
in municipal affairs, and no bosses,
machines. or partisan newspapers. The
Commissioners. Congress, and The citi-
zens alike treat the Districts business as
business. The District Of Columbia is
simply the largest business corporation
in the National Capital
There are arguments for and against
single executive head, as against
commission Of three. The single head,
preferably called governor, might be able
20 decide more quickly and act more
readily. This could not be true. however.
If he was hampered by a number Of inde-
pendent heads Of departments whom he
could not appoint nor remove and who.
by majority vote or by personal action.
not 10 speak Of intrigues, might seriously
embaTTass him. and would certainly
greatly divide the responsibility for the
general acts Of the government.
Proven by Experience
In any event the executive head ought.
Of course. 70 he a District man. and. as
the present Law says Of the civil commits
sioners. one who has not claimed resi-
dence elsewhere for three years. The
chief argument for a board Of commits
sioners IS that nearly thirty years ex-
perience has shown that it makes a god
executive. which can decide quickly and
act readily. and at the same time can de-
uberate. especially in its determination Of
policies in the exercise Of legislative and
judicial functions. and that It secures con-
sideration Of all views and phases Of
question
THE Commissioners have represented
all interests, and each having his own
particular large circle Of acquaintance.
they have had in addition to the public
expressions Of opinion a wide private
knowledge Of the desires of citizens. The
citizens have felt that they had better
access for their opinions than if they had
only one man TO go 10. Theoretically,
there might be expectation Of divided re-
sponsibility and confusion Of authority in
such a board but in practice it does not
work that way.
1t is twenty-nine years to-day since the
adoption Of the present form Of govern
ment Under It there has ben marvellous
progress. The population Of the District
OF Columbia has doubled. The taxable
value Of real estate has trebled. and the
value Of personal property is at least four
times greater. According to the report
Of the United States Census Bureau in
1906. on a comparison of statistics of the
increase Of wealth from 1900 to 1904 the
wealth of the District in that period in
creased twelve per cent or from SsS 73}, 773
70 Sl,04o, ,2S3173.
The bonded debt has been reduced over
one-half The number OF pupils in the
public schools has more than doubled: the
number Of teachers has almost quadru-
pied. Every municipal service has been
developed and improved in proportion.
Nation VIII Pay Taxes.
I'VE may we'll expect 10 see the day
when the nation will not be content TO
/ pay only half Of the National Capital
expense The time will surely come
when it will surely pay all that Is neces-
sary over and above the yield Of reason
able taxation upon the District taxpay-
/ ers to make the National Capital all that
/ it ought TO be. whether its proportion be
! two-thrds or three-fourths Of the whole
amount. For the patriots Of America,
proud Of their country and of its Capital,
want 10 see Washington made perfect in
/ every respect. and are willing TO contrib
/ ute generously to that end.
/ I'm the fiscal year opening on the first
Of July, the people of the United States
| outside Of the District Of Columbia, as
suming that there are ninety millions OF
vr~Tr In, lav Dll
/ toward the National Capital expenses. or
lilo cents per capita. while the $780, ,OC
people Of the District of Columbia will
/ pay in round numbers, S5,5OOOOO, or 1856
! per capita. believe that the ninety mil
/ lion. when they thoroughly understand
/ the matter will gladly double or treble
| their contribution. without asking any
more from the District taxpayers. Then
we shall the the Capital fully equal to
/ the country, glorifying the memory OF
/ George Washington. and offering its hos
/ pitality to all the world In that day II
/ may well take for its word Of praise, as
| indeed. We may to-day. the inspired mes
/ sage sent from Washington TO Baltimore
/ the first telegram over the first telegraph
! line: What hath God wrought
Excursionists Leave Norfolk.
The Chamber Of Commerce excursion
boat left Norfolk tonight with about as
| tired a bunch of humanity as ever went
up the Potomac TO the Capital. Few had
slept we'll on the down trip. and the day
at jamestown had been a continuous
rush, much Of 1t in the rain, over roads
and sidewalks of choicest Virginia mud
The boat left jamestown nearly halt
hour late. arrived at Norfolk at 5:i5
where the Washingtonians were met by
a delegation from the Norfolk Board OF
/ Trade and Business Mems Association
and escorted to the headquarters at Plum
and Atlantic streets. where they were
/ entertained in a hOspitable manner and
/ served TO light refreshments.
The reception committee was composed