The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-23
Continued from First Page.)

Two Of the three Commissioners are
civiHans-at present they are Henry B.
f. Macfarland, who has served as chair
man of the board for many years, and
Henry Litoh1eId West (both Roosevelt
appointees-and one an officer ofthe En-
gineer Corps of the United States Army.
Major W V. Judson, appointed by Pres
ident Taft Merit is the sole qualidca-
ton for the last-named position, and a
more efficient officer or a gentleman of
stricter integrity. than Major Judson
could hardly be Eound. I might add that
naught is to be said against Mr.. Mac
farland or MI vest as private residents
members of a voteless community"
Next comes explanation that the
House and Senate Committees on Dis
trict of Columbia are the real town
council of Washington, the names of the
members being Biven. He proceeds:
Hits at Glover.
&C. c. Glover, president Of Washing
toms richest financial institution, the
Riggs National Bank. multi-milIionaire
owner of scores of acres Of immensely
valuable District real estate, and whose
great fortune R-in go across the Atlantic
eventually because his only child is the
wife Of HollanG's minister OF foreign
affairs, has beer known to declare on
occasion that the civilian Commissioners
had him to thank for their Jobs. They
have; no one who knows how things are
done IN the National Capital disputes
the fact. During many Administrations
the red carpet has always been laid at
the White House whenever Mr.. Glover
approached ne has been persona gratis
siE1a with Republican and Democratic
Presidents alike, and a few words from
him have made and unmade many Of
ficials For years he has been the Boss
de Luxe
Bear in mind that there is no such
thing as ward heller, a district leader,
or county chairman IN the District Of
Columbia All influence is deczIe-edged
and the influential are morocco-bound,
strictly limited to the Northwest. Also
do not lose sight of this northwest SEE
ton; that portion north Of the White
House and West Of Fourteenth street is
where the elite and the mighty abide
and is a monument TO the shrewdness
Of certain Senator'S of this and bygont
days who used their power to influence
the real estate market"
Quotes West, Civilian.
Mr. Woolley quotes from an article
published by Commissioner West, on the
Washington government, some years
ago, when he was a newspaper man
and not a Commissioner, thus:
The sense OF the community Is not
expressed in the selection. The Presi-
dent-very frequently a stranger to the
people whose rulers ne is called upon to
name-is compelled to accept such ad-
vice as may be given by those having
sufficient influence TO reach his ear.
/ The number Of these IS necessarily re-
stricted: nor are hie advisers always
actuated by the most disiEterested mo-
tiVes. Petitions and letters pour into
the White House, but are rarely even
a factor Ia determining the final out
come; and 1t is doubtful If even one in
a thousand secures the President Per
SOnal attention. Sometimes mass meet
ings are held but they have so little
weight as TO be more humorous than
Speaking Of the influences that are
potent In the District co nmittees, Mr..
Woolley further quotes Commissioner
West as saying in the same article:
In both bodies the direction OF street
improvements is largely controlled by
! personal in auence brought 70 bear upon
members II the committee, so that the
poorer sections Of the city do not al
ways share equitably.'
Protected From Criticism.
And then Mr.. Woouey proceeds:
Let Commissioner West also tell you
about the newspapers He was manag-
/ ing editor Of the Washington Post at
/ the time he wrote so learnedly. so his
| utterances may be regarded as ex
/ cathedra.
Usually they (the Commissioners are
| protected from criticism In the public
! prints he said, by reason of the sub
/ stantiaI favors they can dispense; and
| there is no other outlet for the public
VJice.'
| Pretty bad. But conditions have i'm
/ proved a bit in the past few years. The
! Times, an Afternoon paper. has become
/ the property Of a New York publisher
/ and talks about some things rather Wig
/ OrOuslyi the Herald, a new morning pa
/ per, frequently champions a good cause
/ and suddenly becomes OmniOUsly silent.
/ The Post does not change and the own
J ers Of the Evening Star are still heavily
/ laden with stock IN public-service cor
/ porat-ons, making speciality Of trac-
/ tiOl shares. But the Commissioners are
/ as immune from attack as they could
/ wish 10 be.
Real Estate Rings"
| The sensational character of some OF
/ this articIa's observations is suggested
| by the following extract:
| 1T is a notorious fact that the dis
! tribution Of expenditures in the District
| is dictated by several big real estate
rings. the headquarters of each Of
/ which is within a stones throw Of the
/ Treasury building and the White House
/ For years the Chairnen of the House
/ District Committees have been their
/ tools and the late Senator Mcmillan OF
/ Michigan was about the only Senate Dis
/ trict chairman since the late Senator Is
/ ham q. Harris day, whom they found the
/ least bit stubborn. Were the District
/ Commissioners to dare TO fight them
/ openly by making recommendations TO
/ Congress not in accordance with their
wishes. the Commissioners would lose;
/ in fact, they have lost many a skiTmish
/ in years gone by
"a few years ago the par
ticuIar real estate rings interested In
/ the development of Chevy Chase, the
! National Capitals most f. shionable
/ suburb, and Cathedral Heights, asked