Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-22
HAS WRITTEN A MESSAGE
Undecided Whether to Send It to
Congress.
NOT THOROUGHLY CONVINCED
Disposed to Approve j. B. Reynolds
Recommendation-Local Advice
Has Been in Opposition.

President Roosevelt has had prepared
for some time a special message to Con-
gress recommending a change in the
form of government in the District to
one-n man executive authority instead of
three.
The President. however. is undecided
whether he will send this message to
Congress or when he will do So He may
send it early in the session or late or
he may not send it at all. He has been
urged by several strong men i'm whom
he has confidence not to take this posi-
ton, but to leave the District govern
ment as it is at least for another year.
Mr.. Reynolds Recommendation.
Whatever impressions favorable to
oneman power he has obtained have
been largely from the report made to
him nearly year and half ago by
James +. Reynolds OF New York. spe-
cial investigator for the White House
on numerous subjects, although he has
had some experience with District af-
fairs, and keeps pretty we'll posted as
to how things are going. This report
of Mr. Reynolds has never been trans
mitted To Congress. and the special mes
sage the President has already written,
and which is in his desk awaiting his
final decision. is one of transmittaI, to-
gether with an expression Of his own
views.
Mr.. Reynolds. it will be remembered.
treated on a number of subjects in his
report. but specifically recommended
that the executive power OF the Dis
trict be placed wholly in the hands of
one man instead of trio of men. Mr..
Reynolds, as stated In The Star yester-
day afternoon. called upon the Presi-
dent, and again discussed the subject
with him. still urging the one-man plan,
and he went away with the belief that
the President would follow his recon-
mendations and suggest that Congress
likewise do SO.
Not Thoroughly Convinced.
The fact that the President has decided
to handle this important matter to the
District in special message. if at all,
shows the interest he has In it, but his
hesitancy about when he will act also
demonstrates that he is not so thoroug hly
convinced now Of the advisabiity OF urg-
ing one-man government he was some
time ago. particularly after he had read
the report of Mr.. Reynolds.
1t is ascertained that the special mes
sage that Is now reposing in drawer
deals exclusively with the subject of ex-
ecutive authority for the District and a
few other matters touched upon by Mr.
Reynolds. 1t does not go into the uues-
tion of suffrage for the District or any
of it's kindred questions.
Left to inference, the President feels
that there IS little need of any legisla-
tion if any is needed at all. except as to
the ruling power of the local government
At least he does not feel sufficiently well
advised to discuss other questions
Advice Against the Change.
So far the President has sought no ad-
vice from District people on this question.
Some has been voluntarily given him, and
the weight OF this is in opposition to the
plan of Mr.. Reynolds It'is this advice
from people whom he holds in esteem
that induces the President to hesitate as
to sending in the message at ALL In the
end these views may prevail over those
of Mr.. Reynolds. notwithstanding Mr..
Re1.naldS q :hinl. ..-iu