The Washington herald., 1908-07-07
David S. Barry. in Providence Journal.

Darl4 y. Barry, IN Providence Journal.
Washington. July Abandoning for
the present the virtually perennial dis
cussion as 10 the advlsability and prob
ability of q revival Of political suffrage
in the District Of Columbla-a privilege
withdrawn more than thirty years ego
after a somewhat unpleasant experience
with grating feather duster" leglsla-
tors-tbe people of Washington are in
dulging in a hot weather controversy over
the question Of whether the District of
Columbia shall have a 'one-man govern
ment."
Being the Capital Of the nation. the
affairs of the District have an interest,
or should have. for the people Of all
other communities Some Of them. more
over, are interested now. willy nily. be-
cause the mayors Of nearly all large
American cities have been asked TO give
an opinion as to the merits Of one-man
rule for the District as against the sys-
TEN In vogue Of placing the control in
the hands Of three Commissioners pro-
sumably not partisan. appointed by the
President Of the United States. and de-
irving their powers as well directly from
Congress.
Not Popular Uprising.
1t cannot truthfully be said that the
present agitation has its origin in a popu-
lar uprising against the existing form OF
government or that it is dictated alto
gether by a sense of soHcitude for the
welfare Of the $3.50 benighted people
who have their habitation in the shadow
Of the Goddess Of Liberty-capped dome
Of the Capitol
James Bronson Reynolds. who as the
personal representative OF President
Roosevelt has, during the past few years.
investigated with more or less thorough
ness and reported with more or less in
telligent accuracy the facts as 70 mu-
nicipal government and social and po-
htical reform throughout the world, is
the author. so far as published recon-
mendatons and suggestions so, Of the
one-man rule idea for the District Of
Columbia. But he is not the presen.
active asitator Of il.
That honor belongs 70 the owner editor.
and publisher Of Washingtons Oldest and.
at tUrally, leading morning newspaper.
He is daily printing the views OF himself
and the opinions OF mayors OF cities,
business men and politicians here and
elsewhere, with the purpose clearly, Of
stirring the community into a realization
Of the hardships they are suffering. suf-
fciently strong 20 cause them 10 rise in
their might and demand a change
PrOddinE the COmmissiOners.
For some time past this newspaper has
been proddlng the Commissioners OF the
District Of Columbia with a pretty sharp
stick. hitting at If not directly charging
ineficiency and possible corruption in the
management Of municipal affairs. and
crying out for investigation and reform.
1t is difficult TO arouse the easygOing
residents Of the Capital into defense
OF their own rights Uncle Sam, what
ever his short CominEs. is a pretty good
sponsor after all. and if the municipal
government OF Washington falls short Of
what such a large. growing, cosmo-
politan community Is entitled 70, II IS,
nevertheless. a comfortable reflection that
taxes are low. grafters unknown, and
general conditions favorable
Handicapped by an Impression.
The efforts Of the newspaper agitator
are Handicapped somewhat moreover. by
the popular impression that he Is in
splred in his work Of reform less by
compassion for the unhappy lot Of the
residents OF the Capital than by the
ranking knowledge that Il was mainly
through the efforts OF the Commissioners
Of the District that the municipal courts
declined TO allow the local gas light com
panv. the one all-poverful. dominating
monopoly Of the District Of Columbia. and
Of which the newspaper editor whose
heart bleeds for the people suffering
under the incompetent rule Of three
headed government. is president and chief
owner. TO increase its capital stock.
Every effort has its cause. and how
ever directly the crusade against the
Commissioners may be traced TO the
failure Of the monopoly 20 carry out It's
plans. the fact is that the proposed d0u-
bling Of capitalization was not accom-
plished. and the attack upon the local
municipal government followed.
President Not Clearly on Record.
In the discussion Of this subject the
newspaper in question has repeatedly
made the assertion that President Roose-
welt has declared himself In favor of the
plan Of one-man rule for the District. II
is impossible. however, 10 find the evi-
dence that the President has taken such
a stand. and It is more than probable
that the impression that he has done
so has grown out OF the publication Of
the views Of his special agent, Mr.. Rey-
nolde What he said on the subject in
1907 was this:
Il recommend a serious consideration
of the substitution of a single chief ex-
ecUtive for the present Board Of Commits
sioners. For this official the title of gov
erno- has been suggested. as he would
be governor Of the District OF Columbia
as well as mayor OF the city OF Washing
ton. the duties OF both officers now de-
volving upon the three District Commits
sioners.
Il believe the President should be free
TO consider the availability of successful
and experienced mayors in other cities Of
the country who might be especially
qualified 20 become the chief executive
officer Of the National Capital"
Mr. Reynolds then went on 10 eulogize
the system IN vogue IN Germany whose
cities. he says, are recognized as the
best governed. under which the mayors
Of the smaller cities are selected TO be
the mayors Of the larger. The case Of
Berlin IS especially referred 20. the pres
ent mayor OF that city having been pre-
viously mayor Of two smaller ones. Act
ing upon this precedent. Mr. Reynolds
suggests that mayors OF American cities
Of over 50.O00 inhabitants shall be eligible
10 appointment as governor Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Conditions Here Exceptional.
II is quite possible that in making
these recommendations Mr. Reynolds
failed TO take into account the fact.
strongly impressed upon him by the au-
thoritles on the subject when making
his Investigations that conditions are so