Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-14
SESSION EVERY WEEK
New Rule Adopted by District
Commissioners.
DUTIES OF BUREAU CHIEFS
Handle Correspondence Which Does
Not Require Boards Action.
WEDNESDAY MEETING DAY
Public Hearings and Special Busi-
ness Matters to Be Then
the Order.
WEDNESDAY MEETING DAY

the Commissioners in board ses-
,ion today decided to hold q regular
weekly session Of the board Wednesday
at 1890 o'clock, and to allow
heads of departments to handle corre-
spondence which does not require con-
sideration by the board.
This action was based on the report of
the committee appointed to suggest
and records of the Dis
trict government, with view to greater
and efficiency. Radical
changes were suggested to the Commis-
sioners by the committee. among them
being one that the Commissioners meet
every day in board session.
The Commissioners decided that daily
board session was not necessary to ac-
but decided that regular
weekly session might prove to be valu-
able. At that time the Commissioners
will take up matters which require board
action, and will hold public hearings and
listen to citizens who have business mat
ters to consider. 1t is contemplated that
the public hearings asked by citizens.
both individually and through civic or
ganizations. will be held on the day of
the daily board session.
In announcing the decision of the Dis
trict board. Commissioner Macfarland ex-
planned that the plan for weekly board
session is experimental and it's continu-
ance will depend on the results. When
pressing matters come up. 1t was also ex-
planned, the Commissioners will meet In
board session at other times as they have
done in the past.
Handling Of Correspondence.
That part Of the report of the specia
committee dealing with the handling OF
correspondence was adopted by the Com.
missioners, and will be put into immediate
operation.
Among other things it provides that:
1.-The department or Office receiving ,
communication from the secretary Of the
board, as we'll as communications receiv.
ed by him direct, would brief and record
the same. write and send reply thereto
and keep a record Of his action. Only
papers which require the action Of the
board Of Commissioners would be record
ed and replied to IN the Office Of the Sec
retary of the board"
Urging this action, the committee point
ed out that no special legislation Is re-
quired and no additional Office force. and
that the plan will relieve the Commits
sioners Of q great mass Of routine COM
munications which at present pass
through their hands. and will get rid of
much of the delay caused by the present
system. While this method will place
more authority upon the heads of de-
partments and Offices, 1t is pointed out,
their action will still be controlled by the
Commissioners through regulation and es-
tablished precedent and through the ap-
peals taken to the Commissioners against
the decisions of the department Chiefs
The committee contemplated that all
the correspondence received by the Com
missioners or by the secretary to the
board should be considered by the Dis
trict heads at the daily board session, and
each letter referred to the head of a de-
partment, either for reply to the writer
direct from the head or for a report to
action was required. Under the plan as
adopted by the Commissioners this morn
ing the correspondence will be referred
to the department heads by any one of
the three Commissioners or by the secre-
tary, and upon them separately will rest
the authority for saying whether or not
the reply to the writer should be made by
the department head or later by the Com
missioners.
The weekly board sessions will not be
inaugurated at once, as the Commission
ers expect to be busy for some time in the
preparation Of the estimates to be sub
mitted to Congress. That work will re-
quire almost continuous sessions during
the day. When that work is nished, how
ever. the plan for weekly session will
be put into effect.
The Commissioners were in consulta-
tion over two hours this morning, most
of the time being devoted to considera-
ton OF the report of the committee on
handling correspondence.
Official Comment.
In announcing the board action Com
missioner Macfarland said:
''The object OF the Commissioners in
appointing the special committee on the
handling Of correspondence and other
papers was to cut out as much as pos
sible what is called red tape. and that
will be done under the provision in the
committees report which the Commits
in the committees report that the Com
missioners should hold board sessions
daily was considered by the Commits
sioners informally last May. and was
not then adopted and has not now been
adopted. 1t was not regarded by the
Commissioners as necessary for the exc
cution Of the committees plan for the
handling Of papers or for any other pur-
pose.
THE Commissioners did agree. how
ever. that tney would try the experiment
of holding a weekly meeting of the
board of Commissioners at a stated
hour-namely. half past 10 Wednesday
mornings-and in addition to the meetings
Of the board held whenever business re-
quires or whenever hearings are asked
for"
It was thought that the experiment was
worth trying whether, in addition to the
flexible system which has thus far served
the convenience OF the public and the
Commissioners, a weekly meeting might
be profitable. 1t il desired that in so far
as possible public hearings requested
should be held Wednesdays, although.
as heretofore, the Commissioners will ap-
point another day Il the convenience of
citizens requires.
Commissioner Vests Views.
'aThe effort to improve the business ad-
Of the District government" :"
said Commissioner West, will continue
until we perfect a system which will Sc
cure the expeditions transaction of busi-
ness and do away with all complaint OF
delay. The problem is one
which demands and will receive serious
but 1t ought to be solved
in a way which will secure dispatch OF
public business without disregarding nec-
sssary safeguards"