Evening star., 1909-05-04
WRITES LETTER TO PRESIDENT
COL. RANDLE'S VIEWS ON DIS
TRICT GOVERNMENT.
Suggests Reapportionment of the
Duties Of Commissioners Would
Solve Question Of Office.

President Taft Is receiving letters from
District people making suggestions as to
the form of the District government. Some
of these are exceedingly interesting
Among the number was letter received
by the President today from Col. A. r.
Randle, in which he puts forward some
important suggestions. The letter is as
follows:
WASHINGTON. May g. 1899
Hon William II. Taft. President Of the
United States, Washington. D. c.
MY Dear Mr.. President: The citizens OF
the District of Columbia recognize the
fact that by your not reappointing Com
missioner Macfarland. who has made a
most excellent Commissioner, but per-
mitting him to hold over, that something
is going to happen to the District of Co
lumbia government, therefore | take the
liberty of placing the following facts be-
fore you:
The District of Columbia government
Is most excellent form: the three Com-
miSsloners We have are men of the high
est sense of honor; but there is one defect
which, If corrected, would give us the best
government under the sun. As you know,
we have three Commissioners appointed
by the President. two from civil life and
the other from the army. Now. an army
officer is, by teaching. environment and
training a disciplinarian. and taught 10
follow well defined line. which excludes
all expansion where experiment would be
a part, and all expansion and advance
ment has more or less of an element Of
experiment.
Under the present arrangement of the
duties of the Commissioners everything
that requires discipline comes under the
Commissioners selected from civil life,
and everything in the way of advance
ment, expansion and progress comes un-
der the army officer. For instance, the
fire department. the police department
and the schools all necessarily come un-
der regulations that require discipline.
have the benefit of the highest order of
discipline. On the other hand, the bus-
ness interests of Washington have been
materially crippled by military discip-
line, and millions of dollars have been
driven out of the city on account of the
fact that the construction of houses. the
building of railroads, extension of streets.
In fact everything that relates 10 the
future growth Of Washington comes un-
der an army officer.
And still further, when there is
disagreement between the two Commis-
sioners chosen from civil life. then il
throws the deciding power with the army
officer which puts the District Of Co
lumbia under military rule, which is all
right in times of war. but We are now
on the eve of a great tidal wave OF pros
perity in times of peace.
when the Commissioners from civil
the government and the citizens they
give the citizens the benefit of the doubt.
but when the matter comes before the
army branch of the District government.
almost without exception, as facts will
bear me out. the decision has been in
favor of the government, frequently
working hardship upon the citizens.
With these facts before you ] am
sure you will agree that if the Com
missioners would reorganize themselves
and put the branches of District of CO.
lumbia government that require disci-
pline under the army officer and all
branches that lead to the advancement.
expansion and future progress of WASH
ington under the Commissioners selected
from civil life, the principal objections
to the present form Of District of CO.
lumbia government would be removed.
IF you will bring about this reor-
ganization of the District of Columbia
Commissioners, Washington VIII leap
forward to a place among the great
capitals of the world, and will keep
pace with the growth of the nation.
which L am sure will make great strides
of progress during your administration.
with great respect,
Sincerely yours.
ARTHUR T.. RANDLE."