The Washington times., 1909-06-18
DISCUSS CHANGE
IN GOVERNMENT
Reynolds and Davis Give
Their Views Before Cham
Der of Commerce.
LOCAL SUFFRAGE
is TOUCHED UPON
President Taft Is Made an Hon
orary Member of the
Organization.

So that they may be ready early in
the coming fail to present their recon-
nendations regarding the need and wis
dom of altering the present form Of
District government. those members of
the washington Chamber of Commerce
who have been intrusted with this i'm
portant task will continue their inves-
LEGATIONS and deliberations throughout
the summer. The subcommittee of the
committee on law and legislation will
next hear the views, pro and con, of the
proposed change. of several members Of
Congress who have expressed desire
to be heard.
The coming meetings of the legislative
workers of the chamber, however, viii
hardly attract as widespread interest as
the meeting last night. when James
Bronson Reynolds. special investigator
for President Roosevelt into this mooted
subject, and Henry E. Davis, one of the
most widely known members OF the
District bar. presented their views
Views Widely Divergent.
That these two msn, one a noI-
traveller, and a practical worker In
municipal afairs. and the other native
son whose point OF view might be traced
to local pride and long residence under
the influence of existing forms. would
take opposite sides Of such question
was not TO be wondered at, and their
auditors therefore were prepared for
and heard arguments presented from
widely divergent angles. Both men pre-
sented their opinions clearly and for
chilly, and the members of the chamber
are today unit in declaring the value
Of these contributions TO the men who
seek light on the subject of the pro-
posed governmental change.
Prior TO the addresses of Mr. Reynolds
and Mr.. Davis, the chamber, in full
meeting, unanimously elected President
Taft to honorary membership. The mo-
ton was made by Robert n. Harper,
and a committee composed OF President
W. T. Gude, William z. Shannon, Rob
ert n. Harper. P. T. Gormely. and
George Stewart was appointed 70 inform
President Taft OF his election.
3 Representative Gathering.
Eecause OF the great interest in the
subject and the prominence of the two
speakers, there was a large gathering
present when Ernest A. Daniel, chair
man of the subcommittee, introduced
Messrs. Reynolds and Davis. Mr..
Reynolds, who prefaced his address by
explaining the extent of his investiga-
lions in Washington at the behest OF
President Roosevelt, largely reviewed
his original recommendations which
were based on those Investigations.
III fraarr r7F
tbs District government IN the ground
of its dual character. the lack OF Co
ordination among the Commissioners s,
the lack Of efficiency due 70 unbusiness-
like methods. ana renewed his recon-
mendations for the extension Of the
merit system OF appointments the sub
stitution OF q single executive, 70 be
known as q governor for the three
Commissioners. the extension Of the
eligibility for the chief executive ofnce
so as 10 admit an outside appointee. the
creation Of seven municipal depart
ments in the place of bureaus. each Of
which would be under a Commissioner,
a more active participation by the Cit
liens Of Washington IN its government
and the creation OF a new municipal
department for the better protection Of
the industrial class TO be known as the
department OF housing and labor.
Davis Answers Reynolds.
Mr.. Reynolds recommendation that
the executive of the District could be
drawn from the outside after the man
ner OF promoting successful executives
of German cities, was vigorously an
swered by Mr.. Davis, who declared that
such al idea was ''as abhorent TO an
American citizen" as it was impracti-
cable when applied TO American munich
Dalities.
Mr.. Reynolds found fault with the ex-
listing manner OF supervising loan conn
panies and employment agencies, adj
vising that the latter business should
not be merely supervised 10 the Police
Department with q view Of detecting
ofenses against the law but should be
under q municipal officer directly, so
that the interests CT the employer and
The empioye could be guarded and the
two brought into mutually harmonious
relations.
Loan companies in the majority OF
cases are not honestly conducted" he
declared, and employment agencies
need large Improvement. They are not
now conducted in the interest Of the
employer OF the employee, but in the
single interest Of the person who con-
duets the agency"
The Single Executive.
In advising the substitution Of q
single executive for three, Mr.. Rey.
nolds said the present system was
faulty because OF the divided RESPONSE.
bility. This is declared to be a serious
defect and responsible for much delayed
action and annoyance to citizens.
Under the present system, as
understand II" he said, the three
Commissioners, while in theory equally
responsible for the entire government
OF the District, in practice, partially
divide direct responsibility ia their con
duct Of the various departments or bu-
reaus, but they decide collectively al
important questions Of general policy
This system has tV'O Fundamental
defects. Authority is divided and action
is thereby inevitably delayed. Respon.
sibility is divided, hence accountab lllty
is uncertain. Such division of executive
authority Is opposed to the first canoi
Of business efficiency.
Authority Is Divided.
NO other complaint was so frequent.
~ made 10 me by citizens of the Dis
tTact as that of their difficulty il
locating official authority and RESPONSE