The Washington herald., 1909-06-18
CHAMBER ELECTS
TAFT A MEMBER
Continued from Page one.


gest looking backward to the simple re-
quirements OF a town rather than look
Ing forward TO the manifold needs and
complexities OF a rapidly growing city.
Would Extend Eligibility.
The third proposition was the extension
of eligibility for the chief executive office
so that the President may have power 10
appoint either a resident Of the District
or a nonresident who has served at
least one term as mayor Of a city OF
not less than $1,000 inhabitants.
Mr.. Reynolds entered into an extended
defense Of this proposition. He had learn
ed that II was not popular bat he still
thought It sound. He said in part:
The methods Of large business con-
Germs, railroad and Insurance companies.
universities and churches, testify TO the
practical advantages Of national instead
OF strictly local eligibility. The business
concern wants for its President. the best
man in its line the country has produced,
without regard 10 the locality OF his ex-
perience or the claims Of subordinates
for promotion. The university and the
church do not require that a new presi-
dent or pastor should have a knowledge
OF peculiar local conditions" and rare
~ II ever have I heard IL urged that q
church should confine its search for a
pastor 10 the local community. The sue
cess OF imported university presidents has
been demonstrated so frequently that the
proposition appears 10 stand entirely on
ths merits Of individual candidates.
WarinE Was an Outsider.
Heads Of municipal departments also
have been occasionally imported by our
larger cities One Of the most successful
instances Of this principle of what might
be termed national selection for local Of
fee was the caH Of Col George f. War
ing TO become street-cleaning commits
sioner Of New York Violent opposition
was made by the local pride element in
New York. and there was the usual talk
OF the inability OF the outsider 20 under
stand the peculiar conditions Of our city.
Without attempting at all points 10 un-
derstand these peculiar conditions, Col.
Waring devoted himselef TO the task Of
cleaning the streets. He disregarded the
local Judgment. based on long experience.
that the streets could not be cleaned. and
he cleaned them. But he went further:
he aroused the citizens 70 an understand
Ing Of their local needs never before ap-
preciated, and he brought the freshness
OF viewpoint OF the outsider and the out
sider's freedom from local entanglements
and intolerance Of long intrenched local
abuses. Thus II may fairly be contended
that II the outsider labors under certain
possible disadvantages AT the start. he
may contribute other more than COM
pensating advantages
In view Of the experience OF large
business corporations. universities and
churches. OF that OF American cities IN
their selection Of school superintendents.
and occasionally OF heads OF depart
ments. ard OF German cities In the selec-
ton OF their mayors. IS not the prOpO-
sition OF wider eligibility worthy OF Sc
riOus consideration Should not choice Of
the Chief Executive Of the Capital OF
the nation be made from the widest pos
sible field? And should not experience
and proved efficiency be the pre-eminent
qualihcations?'
FGyOrs Council Of seven.
The fourth proposition was the organ,-
cation Of the departments with salaried
officers who should have fun powers as
departmental chiefs. This plan proposes
seven departments. and Mr.. Reynolds
idea is that the chiefs Of these depart
ments should form a council. which
would assume the minor legislative func-
tions exercised by the Commissioners.
their ordinances being subject 10 appro-
val or veto by the governor
The fifth proposition related 20 more
active participation Of the citizens in the
affairs Of government This was discussed
al length, both with reference TO the Dis
trict Building and the Capitol. The con-
clusion was that the sessions Of the Com
missiOners should be open 10 the public.
and that by some means the people
should have the ear Of Congress 10 an
extent that would enable them TO have
their views expressed and acted upon.
AS TO this means. Mr.. Reynolds said that
after consulting with many OF the Ci1i-
Zens the best that was suggested was a
committee Of one hundred, which he
thought very crude. but be let 1t rest
with pointing out that some such body
was essential to the wei being OF the
city
In conclusion Mr.. Reynolds advocated
a department Of housing and labor, and a
bureau Of statistics. The former he would
charge with looking after the proper
housing and employment Of the poor. and
the latter would have 70 do with the
gathering and publication OF municipal
statistics.
Henry r. Davis Speaks
Henry E. Davis was introduced at the
conclusion Of Mr.. Reynolds address. and