The Washington herald., 1907-05-10

James Bronson Reynolds. who at the
request Of President Roosevelt has been
making an investigation OF the social
conditions in the city Of Washington and
the administration Of its city government.
has presented his report 70 the President.
In it he makes numerous recommenda-
tIons. most Of which viii require the ap-
pr0val Of Congress.
Mr.. Reynolds finds the present form OF
government for the District Of Columbia
by three Commissioners. defective. by rea-
son Of the divided responsibility and con-
fusion Of authority He urges instead,
that one man with the title OF governor
be substituted, with a salary Of $4,000 a
year and that the restrictions against
the appointment of nOn-residents be re-
moved, so that those who have served
well as mayors of other cities could be
named. This method is in vogue in Ger
many and Mr. Reynolds urges its adop-
ton on the ground that the cities Of that
country are a. best governed in tho
world
To preside over the various departs
ElE4kEE HtaD1E A4EAA4Ats 4AE A-EE1s MI 4NNF
nolds would appoint commissioners Of
health. police and fire, buildings and pub
lie works, street engineering, charities.
corrections and housing. and labor, ar saI-
aries OF 5000 each, and these commissions
ers he would constitute municipal coun-
ell Tor enacting laws for the District.
Approves Fire Department.
r-Lo Local f7rs .7errs -rr,,s~,t mate he r,,
qualified approval, as do also the Ma
tionaI Bureau Of Identification OF Crim-
inals. and the patrol work OF the police
adoption of the finger print system OF
Identification; an increase OF 100 IN tbs
number of patrolmen, and the creation
within the department Of bureaus OF
transportation and Of theaters and mar
kets. The adoption Of the taxameter
for public cabs IS also recommended.
Mr.. Reynolds also urges the extension
OF the civil service rules 10 all employees
Of the city. and the appointment by the
President Of a permanent commission OF
100 citizens, representing all the ele-
ments. TO express the varied interests
OF the District in relation to all questions
OF social reform and administration" and
recommend 10 the President and Con-
gress.
Reynolds Report.
Mr.. Reynolds report in full Is as fol-
lows:
NO satisfactory standard Of efficiency
in the administration Of the affairs Of the
District of Columbia can be secured until
all minor officials are selected on merit
and their retention IN Office and promo
ton depend solely on the quality of serv-
ice rendered TO the government. The
District Commissioners, on their own in
itiative. have secured the examination By
the National Civil Service Commission or
ali applicants for the police and FIRE de-
partments. Medical officers and expert
accountants are accepted only after a
thorough competitive examination. The
Commissioners have also annually ap-
pealed for the extension of the civil
service law 10 cover all minor employees
of the District. but this request has not
been granted by the Congress.
''The growth OF the city and the in
crease of the number Of its employees
gives each year added emphasis to the
appeal of the District Commissioners for
a well-regulated civil service. The gen
eral arguments in favor Of the merit
system are so well known, and have so
often been approved by you, that need
not repeat them. recommend that leg
isIation be secured which will place all
minor District appointments under the
National Civil Service Commission. -
THE present administration OF the af-
fairs of the District Of Columbia by three
Commissioners has the advantage Of the
intimate association and frequent confer
ence Of three executives Of equal rank.
But it has the inevitable defects OF
divided responsibility, confusion OF au-
thority. and Of administration by a board
instead Of by a single responsible execu-
tive.
Single Head Needed.
while in certain respects the District
has the government OF a territory, Il IS,
in fact. a large city. and its administration
should conform TO the methods adopted
In other large cities OF this country. Af-
ter careful consideration OF the subject
and conference with many citizens OF the
Continued on Page :, Column z.
Cheap Excursion to Harpers Ferry,
MartinsbuTg, berkeley Springs, and