The Washington times., 1909-05-04
PRESIDENT TO GIVE
VIEWS AT BANQUET
Report That Nations Chief Executive VIII Outline His
Aims Is Commonly Accepted Business Men
Wait to Hear His Address

fore. take the liberty of placing the
following facts before you:
1.-The District of Columbia. government
is a most excellent forns the three Com
missioners we have are men OF the high
est sense OF honor: but there is one de-
feet which, If corrected, would give US
the best government under the sun As
you know, we have three Commission
ers appointed by the President, two from
civil life and the other from the army
Now an army officer is, by teaching, en-
vironmeLt and training, q discrplinarian,
and taught to follow well defined line,
which excludes all expansion where ex-
pertinent would be a part and all ex-
pansion and advancement has more or
less of an element of experiment. I'm
der the present arrangement of the du-
ties of the Commissioners everything
that requires discipline comes under the
Commissioners selected from civil life
and everything in the way OF advance
ments expansion and progress comes
under the army officer. For instance.
the Fire Department, the Police De-
partments and the schools all necessar-
lily come under regulations that require
discipline and under an army officer
they would have the benefit OF the high
est order of discipline. On the other
hand, the business interests of washing
ton have been materially crippled by
military discipline and millions of dol
lars have been driven out af the city on
account of the fact that the construc
tion of houses, the building of railroads,
extension OF streets. In fact everything
that relates TO the future growth of
Washington, comes unGher an army Of
flcer.
''And, stiu further. when there is a
disagreement between the two Com
missioners chosen from civil life then
1t throws the deciding power with the
army officer, which puts the District of
Columbia under military rule, whiSh is
all right I'm times of war, but we are
now on the eve of a great tidal wave
of prosperity In times of peace.
when the Commissioners from civil
life are in doubt over any point between
the Government and the citizens they
give the citizens the benefit of the
doubt, but when the matter comes be-
fore the army branch of the District
Government. almost without exception.
as facts viii bear me out, the decision
has been In favor of the Government,
frequently working hardship upon the
citizens.
with these facts before you I am
sure you viii agree that If the COmmis-
sioners would reorganize themselves
and put the branches OF District OF
Columbia Government that require dis
Cipline under the army officer and all
branches that lead to the advancement,
expansion and future progress of WASH
ington under the Commissioners Sc
lected from civil life, the principal OBJ
jecttons to the present form of District
of Columbia government would be re-
moved.
eff you will bring about this reorgani-
zation of the District of~Columbia Com
IllissiOners, Washington will leap for
ward TO a place among the great capi-
tails of the world and will keep pace
with the growth of the nation which
am sure viii make great strides of prog
ress during your administration.
with great respect. sincerely yours,
ARTHUR +. RANDLE."