Evening star., 1911-06-03
Commissioners Cannot Com
ply With Publicity Request.
LETTER TO Mr.. CLAYTON
No Means, They Say, to Ascertain
the "Will Of the Majority"
READY TO HEAR ALL SIDES
Federation's Plan, It Is Stated
Would Mean Heavy Expense
to the District.

The Commissioners Of the Dis act of
Columbia recorded themselves to- ay as
not being prepared to admit that 1t is
part of their duty to base their re-
ports to Congress on proposed legisla-
ton Of any kind upon the approval or
disapproval of majority of taxpayers
and residents OF the District.
In a reply to W. NICK. Clayton, presi
dent of the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations, the Commissioners said in
writing today that in their judgment
frequently the will and personal inter
ests of large numbers Of taxpayers con-
fiict with what the Commissioners believe
to be the best interests Of the District.
The letter to Mr.. Clayton is a reply
to one from the Federation of Citizens
Associations in which the federation sug-
gested that greater publicity be given to
proposed legislation, and that the full
text of all bills be published in the ad
vertising columns of newspapers; that
each advertisement carry a statement as
to the time for public hearing on the
till: that no measure be acted on by
the Commissioners until the Commission
ers have a chance to ascertain the will
of the majority of taxpayers. and that
the Commissioners should indOrSe or dis
approve in accordance with the voice OF
the people.
Cost Would Be Heavy.
To this letter the Commissioners
reply reads as follows:
with respect to the publication of
bills pending in Congress-, the cost Of
publication would be so great that the
Commissioners doubt that it would be
productive Of an advantage commensu-
rate with the expense involved. The
local press gives notice Of the intro
duction of such proposed legislation
and 1t is not a difficult matter for any
one interested to obtain copies of the
bills or resolutions SO introduced. The
cost Of such publication would be very
great.
The Commissioners are always glad
to accord opportunity to the citizens
of the District to present to them their
views upon pending legislation or any
other subjects in which their individual
interests or the public welfare Is con-
cerned.
1.-THE Commissioners have never re-
fused to accord q hearing to any cit
liens association with respect to pend
ing IeHfsTarfUn whenever request
therefor has been made to them. and
have no disposition to abandon that
policy; but, while they seek to arrive
at conclusions in reasonable accord
with public opinion. they are not pre-
pared to admit that 1t is a part of their
duty to base their reports to Congress
respecting either measures which they
suggest or measures which have been
referred to them for report upon the
approval or disapproval of majority
Of the taxpayers and residents Of the
District.
No Way to Ascertain.
"It frequently occurs that the best in
terests of the capital Of the nation so
far as the judgment Of the Commissioners
is concerned and the personal interests
of large numbers Of taxpayers and resi-
dents of the District conflict: and fur
defer their reports on all measures until
the will Of the majority could be ascer
tanned their reports might be indefinitely
delayed. 1t must be borne in mind that
Congress has provided no way, and, in
fact, there is no way. that the Com
missioners could devise for ascertaining
the will of the majority within the Dis
trict. Through the medium Of citizens
associations the Commissioners obtain
valuable suggestions, but We must all ad-
init that they really represent but small
minority of the residents or taxpayers of
the District.
ITO give hearings upon each Of the bills
submitted to the Commissioners by Con-
gress and upon proposed measures orig
mating with them would monopOliZe
their entire time and leave them little
energy for the discharge Of their other
duties, many OF which are quite exacting.
Besides the additional labor. it would i'm
pose on the Commissioners it would re-
quire material increase in the clerical
force and in other ways add largely to
current expenses.