The Washington times., 1909-05-09

generally; and then. unless you make
exceptions To the application of those
principles, you Will find that they VIII
carry you to very illogical and absurd
results. This was taken out of the
application of the principle OF self-goV-
ernment in the very Constitution that
was Intended TO put that in force in
every other part of the country. and II
was zone because IL was intended 10
nave the representatives of all the peo-
pie IN the country control this one city,
and TO prevent its being controlled by
the parOchial spirit that would necessar-
ily govern men who did not look beyond
the city to the grandeur of the nation.
and this as the representative of that
nation.
What Government Form?
1 have got over being frightened by
being told that I aru forgetting the
principles of the fathers The princi-
pies OF the fathers are maintained by
those who maintain them with reason,
and according 70 the fitness OF the thing,
and not by those who are constantly
shaking them before the mass of the
voters for the purpose OF misleading
them.
Now, the question arises. What shall
we do with the government of Wash
ington2 Shall we have the present
board of three: shall we have one or
fess ] do not know. My predecessor
has recommended a change of the ores
ent form so as to give the respOnsi-
bility TO one. with the view of veStinE
that one with the responsibility. On the
ether hand, it Is said that three have
worked well; that it gives more Oppor-
tuntty. possibly, for counsel, and that
II takes away the bureaucratic ChaTac-
ter of the government. AS T have said,
1 have reached no conclusion as to
what recommendation I shall make to
Congress IN tie subject. I fully concur
with Justice Stafford in thinking that il
would be most unwise to introduce into
the District what / understand TO be
a bureaucratic form of government.
That IS right.
Not For Bureaucracy.
A bureaucratic f9rm Of government is
one which, as he very well described
it, WOULD make the war Department
look after the streets; Dr. Wiley. pos
sibly. look after the health-the Agri-
cultural Department, through him-and
the Treasury Department look after the
finances And so as to each branch OF
the government you should go TO the
head of that particular department in
the General Government. I think that
would be a very DurdensOme, very
awkward. a very clumsy system OF
government. / am strongly in favor o.
\ claiming the raI.nicipal form, so that
everything which shall affect the city
of Washington shall be done under the
chief executive of that city. and b. that
chief executive. In other words
would give an entity to the city Of
Washington or the District of Colum-
bia, and take all Of that entity out OF
the operation OF the bureaus OF the Gen
eral Government. That is what I un-
derstand TO be the government today,
2nd the only question that has been
mooted is really whether one man
should be put at the head Of that gov
crnment as a mayor, or whether you
should have three. I agree that prob
ably three men are better, where you
have real legislative functions 20 per
form.
Legislative Functions.
L am inclined TO think that. where
the legislative functions are reduced to
a minimum and consist in little more
than mere executive regulation that