The Washington times., 1909-12-30
Many Objections Found to
Present Method of Gov
erning District.
NEW SYSTEM
MAY BE SUGGESTED
Bringing In of An Outsider to
Manage Affairs Would Be
Opposed.
By JAMES Hay. Il.

Friends Of the President are author
iiy today for the statement that the
difficulty ne has experienced in finding
suitable men to fill the vacancies on
he Board of District Commissioners has
strengthened his behalf that either some
'hange must be made in the form of
the local governu ent or that the sal
aries Of the Commissioners must be ma
terialIy increased. If not doubled.
Mr.. Tafts attitude is described By
those who have talked to him as being
this:
He favors very strongly a commits
sion form Of government when com
mission works as a unit in perfect har-
mony- lie learned the merits of such a
system when he was in the Philippines.
Disadvantages Are Seen.
But he sees the disadvantage Of hay
ing a commission when 1t is next to i'm
possible to persuade men to serve on II
for the salary connected with the posi-
ton. and he has in the past been told
that the District Commissioner. did not
always exhibit that perfect harmony
and accord which he considers neces-
sary for the dispatch OF business by
such a body.
From this description of the Presi-
dents attitude, It can not be inferred
that he believes the men who viii even
tually make up the District Commits
sioa VIII not be entirely suIhb1e meh.
OF the highest standing in the COM
munity and Of great business ability.
on the contrary. he would not select
any man who was not possessed Of such
qualifications.
Salary Not Enticing.
But the vacant Commisst11arsbfns
have been offered to several ner whose
ser vices were desired. They declined 70
seIve on the ground that they could
Hl- afford to sacrifice their business
careers and prospects for a position
which paid only 5000 a year
Naturally. say the friends OF the
President, this experience has served to
confirm Mr.. Taft in his original position
that the easiest and best way TO secure
an efficient head for the local govern
ment IS either 10 raise the salaries Of
the Commissioners SO as to make the
} Jsitions more attractive or TO have one
instead OF three heads Of the local gov
eminent.
IN this connection, it Is declared on
high authority today. that IL the Presi-
dent decides TO recommend to Congress
q change 20 the one-man form Of gov
ernment IN the District. ne will not IL
vor the selection Of 81 outside man for
the position.
Will Favor Home Rule.
on the other hand. he will take the
view that one Of the best known bust
ness men OF the District should be nuf in
charge of the Districts government.
Hitherto, there have been made 10 tbe
President many objections TO the pro-
pOsal Of changing the government, these
objections being based on the fear that
an outside man would be imported" 20
rule the District.
There is little doubt among those who
have discussed the matter with Mr. Taft
that he Will send 10 Congress before
this session ends his suggestions as to
whether the form Of government should
be changed or the salaries OF the Com
missioners increased 10 1880 or $4,000 a
year.
lie will not take up the matter for
final action, however, until he has sent
TO Congress his special messages on
the Sherman antitrust act, the inter
state commerce law. and the conserva-
tiOn service.
Name of E. H. Thomas Discussed.
Much gossip was heard today as to
the possible successor to the last va
Cancy on the Board Of Commissioners
The name most prominently mentioned
as the one which will be linked with
those Of Cuno II. Randolph and Major
Judson IS that Of +. n. Thomas. at
present the Corporation Counsel for the
District.
II SIS known that the President. I'm a
conference with Corcoran Thorn. who
declined the Commissionership. and
Postmaster General Hitchcock, dweIt on
tke fitness Of Mr.. Thomas for the posi-
tion. But. up 10 the present time, no
authoritative information on the sub
iect has been forthcoming from the
White House. The President is in New
York TODAY