Evening star., 1909-05-06
Single or Multiple Executivee

Nearly every one aSSentS TO the aD-
stract theory that a single Is preferable to
a plural executive in representative gov
ernment. There is the same approxi-
mate unanimity of agreement. based on
the same authorities and the same rea-
soning, that, theoretically, the legislative
branch should be numerous and by cleo
ton from small subdivisions. as directly
representative as possible of the views
and wishes of the individuals represented.
The District Commissioners are munic-
ipal executive and municipal legislature
combined. and exercise in addition semi
judicial functions and the functions of
legislative agents of the capital before the
congressional committees.
If the Commissioners should be reduced
in numbers to make the perfect executive
of abstract theory they should be in
creased in numbers and elected by the
people or taxpayers of the District to
make theoretically the perfect legislative
body for the enactment of municipal ord1-
nanceS. The real question is whether In
the practical conditions which surround
the capital commission form of govern
ment which combines Gllogically in the
ory) a variety of municipal functions In
one body is not in actual working and
practical effectiveness better for the well
fare Of both nation and capital than the
theoretically correct form of municipal
government with it's single executive and
its plural elective legislative branch.
To give to the District single execu-
tive the existing form of government
must be destroyed and another substi-
tuted in it's place. What shape will the
new government take? Will it assure as
strongly as the existing arrangement the
fulfillment of the national obligations to
share the cost of National capital develop
ment? Will it surely give even as much
consideration to the Washingtonian as
taxpayer and an American as he now en-
joys? Is it likely to be one which we
will on the whole prefer to that which
exists?
If success comes to Mr.. Reynolds con-
tentions. there will be substituted for the
triple-headed, home-rule commissioner
ship, controlled under the law by District
residents, a single-headed outlander COM
missionership, controlled as a mere bu
reau of the federal government by a
governor imported, perhaps, from Okla
homa. The Star does not believe that
the smallest fraction Of Washingtonians
would, in order to get a single-headed
municipal executive. sacrifice or even en-
tation in the municipal government guar
anteed by the law.
Many Washingtonians have expressed
preference for a single-headed executive
only if he is to be elected by the people.
Some of them are not in favor of suf-
fering the disturbance and dangers in
cident to change unless the choice of the
municipal executive can be strictly con-
fined to the taxpayers. An influential
class of Washingtonians is opposed to a
bogus suffrage, limited to municipal af-
fairs, as much as it is opposed to the
degradation of the municipality to the
status of a mere bureau of the federal
government.
Again. there are many Washingtonians
who do not believe 1t is to the interest of
the District people to run the financial
and political risks which arise from Sc
rlous efforts to destroy the existing form
of government unless and until Washing
tonians unite and organize to work for a
substitute which shall Americanize the
District and make real Americans of it's
people, with genuine representation as
Americans in Congress and the electoral
college. They think that Washingtonians,
when the present form of government is
to be OverthrOwn, should demand full
American rights; should accept nothing
less. and should not waste their great op-
portunity and fritter away time and en-
ergy on minor and comparatively unim-
portant details of proposed change in the
machinery of the municipal administra-
ton.
In the clash of these divergent opinions.
what is to be set down as the public de-
mand in the District? What is to be the
proposition as a meeting of the wishes of
the people of Washington?