The Washington herald., 1907-05-10

The Reynolds report upon suggested
changes in the form OF the District gov
ernment was much discussed yesterday
afternoon and last night
Probably no official statement relative
70 local affairs was ever more carefully
read and pondered. Thirty prominent
citizens were called upon last night TO
give their views upon the plan, and few
of them were as yet ready TO express an
opinion. Some said the scheme was so
broad and so revolutionary that it could
not be disposed Of in a short interview
With one exception those called upon
had read the report, or were reading it
at the time That the interest of all in
the plan was deep was made apparent
by their words, but most of those inter
viewed had not made up their minds as 10
the wisdom or effectiveness Of the scheme
10 suit local affairs.
Several accepted in principle the idea
of q governor in the place OF the present
Commissioners. but to man those talked
with declared that bringing a man from
another city 10 preside over the people
here was obnoxious. No one was found
even to contemplate such thing with
patience. The centralizing Of authority
in the departments under single re-
aponsible head was generally approved,
rs was the principle OF civil service re-
form. The advisory commission Of 100
citizens was generally condemned as be
ing cumbersome, undemocrauc, and in
effective.
Another serious criticism made was that
the plan as a whole did not seem TO
bring the government of the city any
nearer the people than the present form
does, and if there is to be a change, it
was said the new government ought to
do that
Views OF Three Representatives.
From the views expressed may be Sc
lected as representative those Of three
widely known men. who have been prom
inent in District affairs for many years
and each of whom has given much
thought TO the question of government.
Charles c. Glover, president of Riggs
National Bank, said that he was well
satisfied with the present form of gov
ernmeut. lie believed il was as effective.
as economical, and as good as any that
could be devised for the Capital he
was opposed 10 any change In any way,
and was opposed TO the plan proposed
though he admitted that he had not read
it eXhaustiVely.
Thomas ". smith. an Indiana avenue
lumber merchant. said that the proposed
plan did not much coincide with his
views Of what the government of the Dis
trict ought to be. Some of the sugges-
ti0us were we'll enough i'm their way. but
they did not 50 20 the root of the ques-
ZION. as he had hoped the Reynolds re-
port would do.
Mr. Smith said lie would leave The Com
missIoners as they are. He would place
q representative of the people in Con-
ETess. possibly one I'm each chamber, but
at least Cne OF more in the House of
Representatives AS 10 the advisory body
he declared the committee of one hundred
was not TO be thought OF seriously, He
would make that body fifteen. elected by
the people in small subdistricts, repre-
sentng the people in all parts Of the
District and well acquainted with local
needs.
This body should make up the annual
budget and report il To the Commission
ers, or should work with the Commission
ers in making il up, The single heads
of departments, men of brains and au-
thority, Mr.. Smith thought pretty we'll of.
Not Good as Whole.
J. II. Siddous. attorney at law. had
something 10 say in favor of the scheme.
but said it was not good as a whole, He
said the idea of the governor and the re-
sponsible heads of departments was
step In the right direction. lie said it put
responsibility for good or bad admins
trauon where it could be nailed. and made
men to stand or fan upon their efficiency.
The civil service proposition AIr. Siddons
approved.
His criticism Of the scheme was partlcu-
larly the committee of 100, which ne de
ciaved cumbersome. and he thought Il
would not work out we'll In practice
Another thing was the fact that the en-
tire scheme did not bring the government
of the people TO the people in any i'm
portant sense. By the plan proposed. the
management Of the municipal affairs Of
Washington would be removed farther
from the people than at present. and he
did not see that the taxpayer was any
nearer representation, in the proper sense,
Than now.
Mr.. Siddons criticised the manner of ap- /
lfpil4tli4t-l4L DL LedAS OF departments
foreign 20 the democratic ideals of the ma
tiOn. and the proposal TO have a foreign
governor, however good ne might be, he
said. was simply prepOsterOus. Mr.. Sid
dOns intimated that it would be well TO
restore 10 the people of Washington OLD
fashioned suffrage. and democratic gov
ernment. rather than a mongreI set OF
theories that could not be applied to free
people IN these United States. except by
the strong arm Of the Federal govern !
ment."
Commissioners Decline to Talk.
All three of the District Commissioners
declined 10 make any comment upon the
Of Mr. Reynolds 10 the
President. They stated that they had not
had sufficient opportunity 10 consider the
report to make a statement, and that
silence would become their official position
better than any expression OF views at
this time.
Dr w. c. Woodward health officer;
Richard Sylvester. major and superintend-
ent of police and W. T. Belt. fire chief,
also declined to make any comments.