Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-05

URGES APPEAL TO PRESIDENT

the association, however, to refrain from
taking any action following his speech
and simply to await developments. He
believed. he said, that the community
would eventually become aroused and
protest in no uncertain terms against
the methods OF the Commissioner His
remarks were approvingly received by
the association. Mr.. Price said:
For the enlightenment of those people
of the District of Columbia who are not
cosnizant of the real facts, and in per-
formance of my duty as head of this as
ISOLATION. / am compelled to say some
thing as to the true situation in the Dis
trict building. 1t should always be a
source of regret when a citizen is COM
PEELED to severely criticise public official,
but when such an official enters upon a
policy that appears to be a menace to the
best interests of ALL when the whole
scheme of the District government is
thereby endangered: when an assumed
dictatorship takes the place Of rule by
citizens Of this community. then it would
be cowardice to refrain from comment.
Old Practices Upset.
1.-The theory of the Districe government
men, two Of whom shall be civilians, men
thoroughly in sympathy with the feelings
and interests OF the people of the COM
munity. Informed as to the needs of all
sections, progressive and alive to
Washington,s future, the third to be an
engineer officer Of the army, whose
duties shall be, in addition to having a
single vote upon the board of District
commissioners, to supervise engineering
projects Of Importance and advise his
brother Commissioners upon these mat
tiers. That theory has been the best one
yet devised for the welfare of the Dis
trfct, and 1t has been successfully car
ried into action until the present board
of Commissioners began it's services, and
the present Engineer Commissioner Maj.
Judsen, became the dominating influence
in that body
1T is today matter of common report
In the District building and among we'll
informed persons outside that this mill
tary officer is exceeding all precedents in
the methods and manner in which he has
literally assumed charge of affairs II
Washington prefers to be in the position
of a big military post. each of it's citizens
to be private soldier who must hop
around and salute upon the appearance
of it's military boss. then there should
Washingtonian is not such, and I predict
tonight that the Engineer Commissioner
will learn this before he has gone much
farther
ITO be without suffrage here is bad
enough, but what is lacking in this direc-
ton has heretofore been made up by q
body of Commissioners the majority Of
whom were civilians in harmony with the
people OF the District; who stood steadfast
for what they considered the best inter-
ests OF all: who refused to be dominated
by an Engineer Commissioner whose resi-
dence away from Washington, whose edu-
cation and environments in the past, all
tended toward uniting him for full
understanding of the needs, aims and
purposes Of District people
An Annex to the Army.
Now. the District is not only without
the power of suffrage to express its true
feeling, but is fast degenerating into
an annex to the United States Army.
when this Engineer Commissioner
took the oath to fight for and protect
the government of the United States he
did no more than any loyal citizen here
would do should danger arise, but this
oath did not extend to the point of bind
ing him to disregard sentiment of local
people.
II do not think it will be disputed b.
Maj Judson that he has been trying,
ever since he became Engineer Commits
sioner, to change the scheme Of part
SiSihp pCl"ccu TIE Cull4Q states and
the District of Columbia, so that the local
people Will be compelled to pay ex-
penditures for strictly local institutions
while the United States devotes the part
of the revenues 1t Is supposed to con-
tribute to costly roads, brilliant lighting
OF streets in the silk stocking sections Of
the city and similar schemes for the
benefit OF few at the cost of the many
Until Commi sSioners West and Macfar-
land went out Of Office these policies of
the Engineer Com SSf
swatted How far have they gone now?
How far are they going?
Alleged Usurpation.
Il am told on responsible authority
that this dictator of District affairs has
recently gone outside of the bureaus he
Is supposed to control in the District
building and called in heads of bureaus
coming directly under other Commission
ers for the purpose of instructing them
what they should do to further his poll
cies and purposes. He is seeking, am
told, to direl not only the assessment of
taxes in the District, but the collection of
these Fortunately he has received init
nations from some Of the oficials he has
wished to force to his way OF thinking
that 1t would be necessary for them to
consult their superior officers before they
could yield to his desires.
Are the assessments upon local prop
erty to be increased with such rapidity
that the revenues may be Increased for
the carrying out Of this mans schemes?
Let District people make some inquiries
on this point and have their eyes opened
The Suburban Lights.
81, wish to make the direct charge
here and now, in connection with the
recent action extinguishing many
lights in thinly settled suburban por-
tons Of the community. thet this En-
gineer Commissioner sought to do this
during the administration of Messrs
mcfarland and West and that these
two sat hard upon him. Not only did
they refuse to acquiesce in his plans,
but they informed him, indirectly at
least that the appropriations for light
ing had been obtained on representa-
ton to Congress that county roads
were to be lighted, SO much going to
that purpose. The electrical engineer.
Mr.. Alien. was called upon At that