Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-31
Relations With Congress.


Besides administering the affairs OF
the greatest corporation in the Distrlc'
Of Columbia, and representing 1t at nome
and abroad, tn commissioners. as ad-
,sers Of Congress and the parliamentary
.gents of the District taxpayers, nave
a duty which no one else Can perform.
NV endeavor has been to advise our
LEGISLATORS frankly and fully as 10 the
district needs, present ana future, Hrss
as due to them and second as due 70
you, who have no other spokesman tnan
the Commissioners.
There is not time tonight to give an
account Of our stewardship. The RECORD
speaks for itself. AS you nave inumaleo.
we have been privileged to work IN q
period Of unparalleled municipal progress.
ats visible memorials are the extraorui-
mary improvements, typined IN tlis
building and greater in cost ana value
than any before done. That $AI,UOo'VVD
mas been expended on such projects, De-
SIDES as much more expended by the
railroads, and that we have presented
to Congress a plan for spending $4,000.
900 to complete our program OF sucn
projects within the next Twelve years
at slower but still satisfactory rate
are no more important than the improve.
ments in our laws, institutions ano
service. That the extraordinary I'M
provements have left debt or less tnan
s4,OOOOOO is not more remarkable than
friction behind
Personal Sacrifices justified.
"such results justify any personal
sacrifices and with your appreciation are
a great reward. 1t is not only reward
hut a stimulus to do out of Office all that
is possible for a citizen with q life
long interest in the nations city. May
q fFSt
ofacial speech. that of our National
CAPITAL Centennial. out Of which cele-
bration grew the Senate park commits
sion and its plans. We can race tne
future with hope, in spite OF dimcuities
and dangers, in a confidence born OF
reyerent and trustful devotion still given
to Him who has been our dwelling place
in all generations, and to whom thou-
sand years are but as yesterday when
it Is passed.
Commissioner Vests Reply.
.At the end Of a service of seven years
my connection with the government OF
the District of Columbia Is about to
cease" Commissioner West said. TIC
find that my withdrawal from office &C.
casions regret is in itself supreme salts
faction, but when. as Is the case tonight
the seal of public commendat on Is set
upon my record, words fail to express my
apprec alton of your tribute or Vo.ce the
Sentiments of gratitude which fill my
heart.
The position Of Commissioner of the
District of Columbia 8 not only one OF
high honor. but includes grave response
bilit.es and numerous duties. Its burdens
sink into insignlf1cance. however, Leside
the fact that It affords constant oppor-
tunity to advance the material and moral
welfare of the National Capital. / nave
49, n4xr oh
make effective use of those opportun. ties.
although as l look back over the seven
years and recall the work which has been
accomplished 1 still feel that much more
might have been done. Coupled with the
natural pride of achievement is the regret
that greater results were not attained.
Task Only Begun.
1.-The task of developing Washington
into a beautiful and model city has only
commenced, and our successors in ofhce
will find abundant opportunity for the
exercise of their most earnest endeavors.
They will labor with patriotism. inteill-
gence and industry to advance the IN
terests of the District. of Columbia, and
every step which they may take TOWARD
our common good WILL command my cordiai
hope, however. that the splendid era upon
which we have entered will never be
marred by political trafdcking In local Of
fees. In the past we have, most
fortunately. keep aloof from the evil. and
it is essential that the record of the
future should be equally clean. II EN-
phasize this fact, 1t is because l realize
how effective has been the labor OF the
personnel whose meritor. GUS service In the
district government is deservedly recog-
nized, and without whose experience. in
tegrity and ability we could not have
achieved the record upon which we are
proud to stand.
Appreciation Expressed.
I'm q certain sense l regret my de-
parture from the position during which,
for seven years, I have rendered public
service. / feel that this service has
enabled me to demonstrate my deep and
abiding interest In the National Capital,
that the wide horizon which the office
presents has broadened my vision, and
that. above all. have been brought into