The Washington herald., 1907-05-10
FRIDAY, MAY 10. 1907.

Recognizing the District Government.
a concentration of authority in our Dis
trict government! Why not? Many OBJ
servant. progressive citizens generally
believe in it, It Is no new thought that
The Presidents special investigator Mr.
Reynolds. has evolved on this point This
phase of his exhaustive report is distinc-
tive in carrying no mark Of importation
The idea has been growing here for a long
time Il is fun of common sense, And
If Alr. Roosevelt should ask Congress to
put this particular suggestion into opera
tion, we have no doubt it would find gen
eral favor at the Capitol.
The District government should have
one head-nOt three heads. The salary
proposed. S0O0O. is modest enough. The
right sort Of governor or mayor would
be worth 1t, and more But we do not fol-
low the theory that he must first be tried
on Indianapolis, Kalamazoo. or Altoona
before he become eligible for service here.
Such a proposition is absurd. The
great governors and mayors that are
daily In evidence served no such appren-
ticeshlp, and il is the sheerest nonsense TO
say that the District Of Columbia should
look elsewhere for man TO preside sue
cessfully over our destinies
The extension of the civil service sys-
TEN to all the minor offices in the District
is thoroughly in order. and ought 10 have
been made long ago. Other OF Mr.. Rey-
nolds' recommendation are by no means
free from objection. His recognition Of
the efficiency of the police and fire de
partments is gratifying.
The interest felt by President RoOse-
Welt in the affairs of the District has
been evidenced on numerous occasions
He has repeatedly dealt with local mat
ters in his annual messages to Congress,
and even in special communications has
emphasized the initiation Of certain re-
forms. It is a praiseworthy interest.
Washington is the Capital of the whole
country-it is a national city-and when
any President holds its welfare close
10 his heart. a broader and more national
sympathy in our development must be
the inevitable result,
As TO the agency employed by him in
this particular instance. we must plead
ignorance. Mr.. Reynolds became known
to fame through his investigation of the
seems 10 have drawn 5000 or more from
the Republican campaign committee in
New York. Whether he is now working
for glory or is paid from some secret
fund are questions beyond our ken. In
view Of the fact. however. that he is a
chosen representative of the President, he
is entitled 10 consideration.
Speaking broadly. Mr.. Reynolds would
engrsft upon the District an elaborate
and quite expensive system of govern
ment, modelled very largely upon the
plan In vogue In New York, where innu-
merable bureaus are presided over by
commissioners who draw fat salaries.
These commissioners are paid upon an
average $500 per annum. Mr.. Reynolds
would pay their District counterparts
5000. which is the amount now paid 70
the three heads Of our local government.
We had an idea that these numerous Of
fees We're created in New York TO give
pleasing berths TO loyal and industrious
politicians. but ii may be that they are
al essential to the citys welfare. II
We are to have d large increase in ON
municipal bureaus, with highly paid Of
ficials, then certainly We must expect d
salary list of very ample proportions
There is q prevalent belief that we are
already we'll equipped with bureaus and
bureau chiefs-too well equipped, In fact
This city has often been made the foot
ball Of governmental reformers, and in
this connection we call attention 10 a
pointed communication from Chairman
GalIinger, Of the Senate District Commit
tee, printed in another column. He speak:
from experience with local problems. We
submit that our citizens ought to have
some opportunity TO be heard ere new
experiments are foisted upon us.
Let US congratulate ourselves, however
that peace and quiet must reign until th'
first Monday in next December. Tn,
present form Of government is estab
Ished by law. and only by law can it bt
abolished. Something authoritative Is
required to give Mr.. Reynolds numerous
suggestions a definite value and effect.