The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-05

At the meeting of the Congress Heights
Public Improvement Association, w. w.
Price, the president, delivered an ex-
coration OF Engineer Commissioner Jud-
son, whose methods. he declared are
helping 10 make the District an army
post, and 10 rob it of its progress and
needed improvements.
For the enlightenment OF those not
cognizant OF the real facts. and in per
Torrance OF my duty as head OF this
association. I am compelled to say some
thing as 10 the true situation in the Dis
triet building. II should always be a
source OF regret when a citizen is COM
PEELED 10 severely criticise public Official,
but when such an official enters upon a
policy that appears 10 be a menace TO
the best interests of all; when the whole
scheme or the District government Is
thereby endangered; when an assumed
dictatorship takes the place of rule by
citizens OF this communication it would
be cowardice 10 refrain from comment
"GOOd System Gone Wrong"
The theory OF the District government
is that IL shall be conducted by three
men, two OF whom shall be civilians
men thoroughly in sympathy with the
feelings and interests OF the community
Informed OF the needs OF al sections
progressive and alive TO Washington's
future-the third 20 be an engineer officer
OF the army. whose duties. in addition
10 having a single vote upon the board
or District Commissioners, are 10 super
wise engineering projects OF Importance
and advise his brother Commissioners
upon these matters. That theory has
been the best one yet devised for serV-
ing the welfare OF the District. and It
has been successfully carried into action
until the present board Of Commissioners
began its services and the present en-
gineer Commissioner. Mai. Judson. be-
came the dominating influence in that
body.
1T is to-day matter OF common report
IN the District Building and among we'll
informed persons outside that this milf
tary officer is exceeding all precendent in
the methods and manner In which he
has assumed charge OF affairs If
Washington prefers TO be in the position
Of big military post. each Of its citl-
zens TO be a private soldier. who must
hop around and salute upon the appear
ance OF its military boss. then there
should be no objection, but the spirit OF
the Washingtonian IS not such, and
predict tonight that the Engineer Com
missioner VIII learn this before he has
gone much farther.
"Distrlct an Army Annex"
''To be without suffrage here is bad
enough, but what Is lacking in this
direction has heretofore been made up
by a body OF Commissioners the major
ity OF whom were civilians, in harmony
with the people OF the District. who
stood steadfast for what they considered
the best interests OF all; who refused 10
be dominated by an Engineer Commits
sioner. whose residence away from
Washington, whose education and en-
vironments in the past, all tended TO-
ward uniting him for a full under
standing OF the needs. aims. and pur-
poses Of District people.
The District is not only without the
power of suffrage TO express its true feel
ing. but is fast degenerating into an
annex TO the United States Army
When this Engineer Commissioner took
the oath 10 fight for and protect the gov
eminent OF the United States he did no
more than any loyal citizen here would
do should danger arise. but this oath did
not extend 70 the point Of binding him
10 disregard the sentiment OF local people.
Il do not think it viii be disputed by
Mai. Judson that he has been trying ever
since he became Engineer Commissioner
10 change the scheme Of partnership be-
tween the United States and the District
OF Columbia so that the local people VIII
be compelled to pay all the expenditures
for strictly local institutions. while the
United States devOtes the part OF the
revenues II IS supposed 10 contribute 10
costly roads. brilliant lighting OF streets
in the silk stocking sections OF the city.