Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-24

and regulations, in the preparation of
arguments and information for congress
Slonal committees, in the execution or
laws and regulations, in the organization
OF the new department of insurance, and
the reorganization of practically every
other department. in the regular admin
istration of all the departments, boards
and offices. in short, in everything that
has been done. you men and women have
been Indispensable factors. usually I'M
seen for the most part. unknown by the
outside world. You have not worked for
glory or for wealth; but you have the
consciousness of having had d real part,
every one OF you. in the accomplish
ment of great results, which make dis
tinct chapter in our history, and have
been an example and stimulus to every
other municipality in the country.
You have my hearty gratitude for
your assistance, and as a citizen l shall
continue to do everything in my power
TO see that YOU have better salaries and
better facilities. and that measure of
public appreciation which you richly de-
serve
Presentation to Mr.. West.
Alonzo Tweedale, auditor of the Dis
trict, who has worked side by side with
Mr.. West in the business and financial
affairs of the District government, babe
his former chief goodbye in the name
of every one connected with the de-
partments which fell under Mr. Vests
charge. At the close of the farewell he
stepped forward, pointing to a mag
nificent silver service in colonial style,
and testified for his fellow-workers
that the appreciation for Mr. West was
sincere and solid.
After d service of more than seven
years as Commissioner" Mr.. Tweedale
said, you. at your own request, have
just severed your official relations with
the municipal government. of the DIS
trict Of Columbia. and we who served
with you take this opportunity to eA-
press our appreciation of your true
worth as a competent. painstaking and
Jealous public official. The sterling
qualities of justice, fair dealing ana
honesty which have uniformly char
aeterized your administration of the
governments business committed t.
your charge have been clearly mani
fest to your fellow-citizens in the COM
munity, as was shown at the recent
public reception rendered to the retir-
ing Commissioners, but we. your fel-
low workers. who have been more
closely and intimately associated with
you in your work, desire to specially
testify to the fact that in your retire
ment the District has lost the services
of one of its most competent and ca
pable Commissioners.
Especial emphasis should be laid upon
the recognized increase in efficiency in
the business and financial offices of the
District under your direction. Practical
~ every office has been remodeled and
rearranged with a view to closer uni
fication under more centralized con-
troll. resulting in better conduct of the
business affairs of the government.
III expressing our regret that our
pleasant official relations have been now
severed. and with the assurance that
you carry with you our deep affection.
gratitude and best wishes for unbounded
success in your future work, we take
this opportunity to tender you this silver
service as token of our esteem"
Mr.. Vests Reply.
There was another burst of handicap
ping and Mr.. West arose from his chair
at the left end of the Commissioners
table and in few words took his fare
well of his friends and thanked them
for their gift.
Il appreciate more than | can express
this evidence of your kindly feeling Mr..
West said. lit is neither the time nor
the occasion for d formal address, but
simply for a farewell word to gratefully
acknowledge the loyal assistance you
have rendered me and to utter the deep
sense of satisfaction which | feel be-
cause we, who have been so long and so
closely associated, have come to enter
tain for each other mutual regard. 1t
hold and cherish this artistic and sub
stantial remembrance of your good will
and shall prize it all the more highly
because it comes from those who have
had occasion to judge me through daily
contact.
Not in a perfunctory way, but with
sincere and cordial meaning l express
the hope that the friendships which have
been formed within this building will not
cease with the severance of our Official
relations.
sAgain l tender to you my hearty
thanks and feiicitate the District upon
the splendid service which, to my per-
sonal knowledge. you have rendered. /
wish for all of you the largest measure
of success, and am proud to carry into
private life the knowledge that l have
earned your valued esteem"
That was all-except the welcome to
the new Commissioners and the hand
shakes for the old. The old board and
the new stood together, with Mai. Judson
connecting link between the old and the
new, and shook hands for nearly half an
hour Every one wished Mr.. Mcfarland
and Mr.. West good fortune and every one
had a warm welcome for Commissioner
Rudolph and Commissioner Johnston.
Gift From Fire Department.
Then a real surprise was sprung The