Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-22
District Commissioners.

District Commissioners.
Whoever the new District Commission
ers may be, they should enter office with
fun appreciation of the fact that they
are not merely national omceholders.
the heads of federal bureau or depart
ment, responsible only to the President
and the nation: but that they represent
primarily a local constituency of over
10000 people. whose opinions. wishes,
needs and aspirations are their chief con-
Germ and to whom they stand in the re-
lation not only of municipal execu-
tiyes, but also of legislative agents, and.
by delegation from Congress. of ordi-
nance-making legislators. and, by cour-
tesy, of advisers to Congress concerning
general legislation of local interest. In
the ordinary American city these Off
Gals would be elected OF ousted by the
local community and would thus be di-
rectly responsible and responsive to local
public sentiment. In the case of Wash
ington, the same national exigency which
makes the national Congress its exclusive
legislature causes its executive and or
dinance-making public servants to be des-
ignated by the President. who in this con-
the community's ballot and of giving eff
feet to the local sentiment. Thus the
President, in selecting these officials.
serves as the agent of the local commu-
nity. puts himself in the Washingtonian's
place as far as possible in acting as his
proxy, and in his behalf, and naturally
ascertains and defers to local public SEN
timent, at least to the extent of refrain
ing from the appointment of any one as
Commissioner who could not by any pos
sibility be conceived as elected by the
community itself.
The primary requisite of the Commits
sioner as agent and representative of
Washington is full knowledge of and
sympathy with his constituency. He must
know the citys past as we'll as Its pres
ent, its history and its traditions, and be
loyal to It's fixed principles of public pol
icy In the peculiar makeup of the Dis
trict government and National Capital
partnership. the civilian Commissioner is
the representative of the local community
and not of the nation. The latter has as
It's exclusive representatives Congress and
the President, and the Engineer Com
missioner is without local Affiliations. and
when first appointed is often without spe-
cial knowledge Of or sympathy with the
local conditions. BY the letter and spirit
of the law the two civilian Commission
ers are chosen from and represent the
local community. and should be satu-
rated with the local spirit. They should
be the loyal champions of the local poll
cies. interests and general welfare. even
IL this championship brings them in tenn
porary opposition to representatives OF
the nation in or out of Congress.
1t is not only in pursuance OF the law
and of equity but it is essential to the
welfare of the District that the civilian
Commissioners should thus be in. of and
for the local taxpaying community. The
appointment OF a recorder OF deeds. or OF
a postmaster. may be SO. made as to slur
and wound the Washingtonian. but the
injury is largely sentimental. not practi-
CAL. In the case OF the Commissioners,
however, their functions are so vitality
important to the local welfare that the
appointment Of one hostile to or not in
harmony with the local spirit and aspira-
tons would be disastrous.
In order to render defensible the form
of local municipal government it is nee
essary that the civilian Commissioners
shall in good faith represent the local
taxpayers III uIbLIuCllOn AIOAi SHC HoliOiOi
partner In a municipal corporation the
principle mo taxation without represen-
tation'' carries with it that other princi-
pie. no representation without taxation"
Congress for the nation represents
half OF the capital taxpayers. II
the Commissioners faithfully repre-
sent the other half in taking the ini-
tiative in submitting appropriation es-
Inmates under the law the decisions on
the basis of these estimates reached by
Congress will evidently reflect the wishes
Of the whole body Of taxpayers to an ex-
tent unknown in the ordinary American
city, where under the system of unimit
ed manhood suffrage in municipal affairs
the organized non-taxpayers. a rule,
decide all questions of taxation.
The ideal Commissioner will not only
faithfully represent the local community,
but he will have the experience and ex-
ecutive ability which will make him
successful administrator of the diversified
business at the District building and also
the acquaintance with public men and
methods of legislative procedure and the
tactful skill in dealing with men which will
make him most effective as the Districts
legislative agent. The ideal Commissioner
Will be neither an incompetent eligible
nor an ineligible. however competent He
viii be thoroughly eligible and thoroughly
conpefeuf