Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-17
The Future Washington.

Ine uture w aSn1uStOu.
Commissioner Macfarland's resignation
"a surprise to the President and a shock
to Was hington-following so closely Com
missioner Vests unexpected resignation.
has created q situation Of the deepest con-
Germ to this community. and imposes upon
the President a responsibility not less
heavy than the weightiest of those
thrown upon him in filling the most i'm
portant national offices now vacant. For
the welfare OF the National Capital is
vitality involved I'm the local commission
ership appointments
The present civilian Commissioners
have served the District during the Mo
Kinley- Roosevelt and the Roosevelt ad-
ministrations and In this period they have
notably advanced the city's welfare. CIV
ing 1t an unsurpassed record Of munich
pal achievement. We can see the great
works of Washington's seven Roosevelt
years. What will be the record under
new Commissioners OF his own appointing
Of the seven remaining Taft years?
No other Of our Presidents in very many
years has indicated SO great an intelligent
interest IN and sympathy with the people
of the capital as President Taft. and he
will be as much concerned as the COM
shall be wise to the end that the record
of development in Taft's Washington may
be unequaled by that of the capital I'M
der any other President in the republics
annals. Beyond the shadow Of doubt
the President will give to the matter of
the choice of Commissioners the most
serious and deliberate and kindly con-
sideration. He will doubtless take meas
tn OF foIxy vnrrhI liz
sentiment. and give to the voice of the
community such heed as he thinks il de-
serves on its merits, undisturbed by the
fact that the advice of the people may
seem on the surface to be contradictory
and confusing. And he may. The Star
feels sure. be absolutely relied upon to
search. diligently until he finds the two
bona-fide Washingtonians. in full COM
pliance with the letter and spirit of the
Law. whose character and ability and
enterprise will guarantee the grandest re-
suits in wise capital-building during his
administrations, and whose knowledge Of
and intelligent sympathy with the COM
munity. of which they are an integral
part, will cause them to so administer
their government as to assure fair play
from the nation to the Washingtonians
whom they represent, and give to WASH
ington. the city of its people. and tie
men who dwell in II, the same develop
ment in progress and prosperity as Wash
ington, the National Capital. a collection
OF streets and buildings. parks and
monuments.
1t has been suggested that the Presi-
dent. In selecting the Commissioners.
should. SO far as the law permits. divide
the appointments, one to represent the
nation. the other the local community.
On consideration 1t will be clear that
this basis Of selection is neither wise nor
fair. The division between the national
and local partners has already been
made, and the two civilian Commissioners
assigned by law to the latter. The nation
has Congress and the President, and
through them the absolute legislative and
executive control of the District. The En-
gineer Commissioner is an army officer.
representing the nation rather than the
local community. The two civilian Com
missioners must by law be residents of
the District for three years. during that
period claiming residence nowhere else.
In the whole range of legislative. execu-
tive and judicial administrative machin-
cry Of Washington this is the only frac-
ton or fragment which belongs distinct
lNeIy anu exclusively 10 tne local COM
munity by direct command Of the law.
Ii is the only vestige of authorized rep
resentation of local public sentiment
which has not been or Is not subject to
be absorbed by the national government
1t is in the general public interest and
absolutely essential to the local welfare
that the people of Washington, the great
majority, who are not also the people OF
anywhere else, should be scrupulously
protected in this right to present through
IT, Commissioners to the representatives
OF the nation. in whom the real control
of District affairs rests. the needs and
hopes and opinions of the otherwise I'M
represented community. For the nation,
which has the President, who appoints
the Commissioners. and Congress-. which
Is the Districts exclusive legislature, to
reach out also a robbers hand for half
OF the civilian commissionerships Is for
the powerful and wealthy Uncle Sam to
fall into David's sin by coveting Wash
ington's eve lamb of municipal repre-
sentation. Be fair to the local partner
in the National Capital partnership Pre-
serve this wise and equitable protective
statute concerning the eligibility of CT
william Commissioners and observe 1t In
letter and in spirit.