The Washington herald., 1907-05-10

ture necessitate proper factory and shop
laws and definite responsibility for their
enforcement
Bureau Of insurance:
In place Of a commissioner Of inslu-
ance. with one or two clerks. a fully
organized bureau. with chief and ade-
aIlate STAFF is needed Particular atten-
ton should be given TO the economic
efforts Of Industrial insurance, while other
means Of saving. such as banking in
surauce and postal savings, should prop
erly come under the attention and IN
speCtlon OF the bureau
1T viii be noted that I have made no
detailed comment on the fire depart
ment beyond combining II with the po-
lice department I have also made no
comments on other existing departments,
except where such were required as
basis for rec0mmendattons- In my sur
vev I have found several Isolated Offices
IN the District government. such as coal
inspector. inspector Of weights and meas
ures. and sanitary inspector. These
offices should be joined 70 some apprO-
pirate department above named, 10 whose
Commissioner they should be responsible.
Municipal ordinances:
IN the absence of municipal council or
territorial assembly the power 10 draft or
dinances has been IN the hands Of the
District Commissioners. Under the pro
posed plan regulations for the admins
tration Of departments might properly
be intrlsted 10 the executive head OF
such departments. The power 10 pass
general ordinances might best be given
10 a council composed OF the commis-
sioners az the head of the various de-
partments Of the District government
Sessions Of the council should be public
and ordinances when passed should be
subject 10 the approval Of the governor,
after notice in the daily press of the
passage Of such ordinances and after pub
lie hearing.
1t would be greatly 10 the advantage
Of the District and relieve the National
District administration If larger powers
were granted both to the executive and
legislative departments Of the District
government
THE Importance OF the service Of civic
organization in the District Of Coium-
bia IS emphasized not diminished, by
the absence of the right 10 vote. On
the material side such service Is rem
dered by the Board OF Trade. the Busi-
ness Mems Association, the Jobbers and
Shippers Association, and various sec
tionaI associations. These organizations
have also shown an interest in the gen.
eraI civic concerns OF the District
There does not. however, exist any
strong organization charging itself pri-
marily with the disiHterested promotion
Of the general public welfare. Such an
organization is greatly needed, and l
suggest the propriety OF your naming
committee of Ice, 10 be composed OF rep
resentatiyes OF all elements and 10 ex-
press the varied interests OF the Dis
triet in relation 70 al questions Of social
reform and administration. 1t would
differ from commercial organizations,
whose primary interest is material and
personal, in that its primary interest
would be civic and general. The recon-
mendations Of such body would un-
doubtedly have weight with yourself,
with the Congress. and with the admin
lstratfve officers OF the District. and It's
conferences would furnish a forum for
discussion and the expression and en-
Hghtenment Of public opinion