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

and similar schemes for the benefit of a
few at the cost or the many. Until Com
missioners West and mcfarland went out
OF oee these policies of the Engineer
Commissioner were severely swatted.
How far have they gone now7 How far
are they going?
"outsIde His Department"
I am told on responsible authority.
that this dictator Of District affairs mas
recently gone outside OF the bureaus he
is supposed TO control In the District
building. and has called in heads OF
bureaus coming directly under other Com
missioners. for the purpose of instructing
them what they should do to further his
policies and purposes. He is seeking,
am told. 10 direct not only the assess
ment OF taxes in the. District. but the
collection of them. Fortunately. he has
received intimations from some OF the
officials he has wished TO force TO his
way OF thinking that 1t would be neees-
airy 10 consult their superior officers be-
fore 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 these schemes? Let
District people make some inquiries on
this point. and have their eyes opened.
IT wish to make the direct charge here
and now. in connection with the recent
action extinguishing many lights in thin
ly settled suburban portions of the COM
munlty, that this Engineer Commissioner
- .gr4fa
tration 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, indi-
rect,y at least. that the appropriations
for lighting had been obtained on repre-
sentation 10 Congress that county roads
were 10 be lighted. 50 much going 10
that purpose. The electrical engineer,
Mr.. Allen. was called upon AT that time
out the lights. and he recommended
against IT,
ATTITUDE Is Defiant"
This army officer pursued his purposes
when the old Commissioners went out.
and only the other day he informed me
that the lights would stand just where
they did before they were put on the
roads. That means that District citizens
owning property and paying taxes on
suburban property must get down on
their knees TO a dictator. or one or his
understrappers, and be refused what they
ask.
In the meantime, however, the money
saved from darkness OF suburbs is
squandered that pink tea street Of the
city may be so brilliantly lighted at night
as to almost blind those who go upon II.
Every citizen OF the District wants
Washington to be the most beautiful city
in the world. Every man wants to at
tract people here, but local people wish
something for themselves. Above all.
they desire local sentiment consulted and
not Overridden IS is being done now.
IF the leading organizations and citi-
zens associations, together with repre-
sentative men. will take this matter up
with President Taft, believe he will
make an investigation to determine
whether this Engineer Commissioner is
conducting his work In sympathy with
the people of this community. or whether
he is proceeding in arrogant fashion
without consulting the real sentiments
OF Washington citizens, who are not yet
to be placed in the suffragette class, even
by an army officer. without suffrage. and
caring for little except his duties TO the
army"