The Washington times., 1909-05-05
Tenure of Office Will De-
pend Upon Decision
of Taft.
PROPOSED CHANGE
AROUSES INTEREST
Business Men, Pending Announce
meI,t From President, Are
Seeking Information.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

Henry 3. +. Macfarland today served
his first day OF the term of Commits
fioner which overlaps from his regular
fhree-year-tern. as result OF the Presi-
dents desire neither To reappoint Mr..
Macfarland nor to name any man to
succeed him until It is decided whether
the form OF the District government
should be changed.
Mr.. Macfarland's term expired last
night. and he would have been reap
pointed or succeeded by another man
had II not been for Mr.. Taft's desire to
ascertain whether washington should
continue under the commission form OF
government or a one-man rule.
In the past few days. following the
news that the President will look into
the matter, with the distinct under
standing that he has not yet made up
ills mind on the subject, there has been
.tmong the leading men OF Washington
a great demand for information about
what benefits would be achieved by the
proposed change. Until there comes
from the President some definite ex-
preston OF his views on the matter. 1t
IS more or less a question for academic
discussion.
From Others Experiences.
There is. however, some enlightening
information on II as regards the expert
ence of other cities which have adopted
the commission form Of government
Many of the progressive periodicals take
the position that the commission form
IS the best machine for ruling a munich
psIity.
The plan OF Galveston. Tex. is crit
icised because Il has no way OF re-
railing from Office IN nid-teITn a dere-
tict commissioner. Des Moines, Iowa,
and other cities which have provided
for the referendum and recall are de-
seribed as having attained the ideal OF
city government.
In comparing the experiences Of other
cities and the present situation in
Washington. It must be remembered
that no other city in the world CORE
spends exactly 10 Washington in its
political conditions Here the people
have no suffrage They cannot vote
And the function Of the recall from Office
or the election 10 Office is in the hands
Of the President, who may appoint or
remove a Commissioner from Office.
Restraining Power.
That IS, the President, with this form
of commission government, is intrusted
with the restraining power which in
people
The commission form is praised in
other cities because It tends to a cen
traiization of authority and response
bilIty IN the commission, doing away
with the ward system OF city govern
ment. President Taft's idea is under
stood 70 be an effort 10 promote cen
frsliZatiOn Of power and responsibility I
even more than Is possible with a COM
mission, The proposed change would
be to do this by means Of having one
man at the head OF the government, |
with power over six or eight commits
sioners. whose duties would be TO man
age their several departments Of the
government.
Friends OF the Administration take
the position that the only thing 10 de- |
eide Is whether the President could get /
better results from one man Of superior /
authority than he could from three men I
OF equal power. They make this point, /
arguing that the power Of the President /
10 appoint, reappoint. or remove from !
Office would be the same with the gov i
ernor as with the three commissioners. |
and that HIS restraining power on the 4
governor would be as great as on the /
three commissioner
Another Argument.
Another argument which enters into /
the discussion is whether it would be
advisable 10 throw the position Of gov 4
ernor open 20 any available man from |
any part OF the country instead OF max
ing citizenship OF the District a pre-
requisite OF holding the place Friends
OF the Administration claim that having
the whole country from which TO make
a selection Is tho right thing according
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