The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-03
Commissioners GO
ON RECORD AGAINST
FEDERAT|ON'S PLAN
Refuse to Be Bound by
Opinion of Majority of
Taxpayers. -
HAVEN'T TIME FOR
HEARINGS ON BILLS
Further, They Claim, 1t Would Be
Too Costly to Advertise
All Measures.

Declaring they do not conceive II
their duty in reporting on District leg
islation to act in accord with the opin-
ion of the majority of the residents and
taxpayers of the District, the Commits
sioners today forwarded to the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, an an
Ewer to their request that hearings be
given on all bills relating to the Dis
trict of Columbia
At a recent meeting of the Federation
Of Citizens Associations, it was sug-
gested that Congress be asked to au-
thortze the Commissioners to publish
in the press, the full text of every bill
introduced in Congress affecting the
District; that each advertisement fix a
time for hearing on the measure be-
fore the Commissioners; that no meas
ure be acted upon by either committee
Of Congress until the Commissioners
report whether, in their opinion, the
majority of the taxpayers and resi-
dents of the District approve or disap-
prove Of the measure, and that having
ascertained the sentiments of the tax
payers, the Commissioners then ap-
prove or oppose the measure in ques-
ton.
Cost of Publication.
With respect to the publication of bills
pending in Congress, the Commissioners
say the cost of such publication would
be great, and they doubt whether it
would be productive of an advantage
commensurate with the expense invol-
we'd. The newspapers, they say, give
notice of the introduction of proposed
legislation, and it is not difficult for
srHA
bills or resolutions.
In reference to the granting of public
hearings, the Commissioners present
their views as follows:
The Commissioners are always glad
10 accord opportunity to the citizens of
the District to present to them their
views upon pending legislation or any
otner subjects IN which their individual
interests or the public welfare is con-
cerned.
To Stick to Old Policy.
THE Commissioners have never re-
fused to accord a public hearing to any
citizens association with respect to
pending legislation whenever a request
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 prepared to admit that It
Is part of their duty to base their
reports to Congress-, respecting either
measures which they suggest or meas
ures which are referred TO them Cor
report, upon the approval or disapproval
Of majority of the taxpayers or resi-
dents of the District.
1T frequently occurs that the best
interests Of the Capital of the nation,
so far as the judgment of the Commits
stoners Is concerned, and the personal
interests of large number of taxpay-
erS and residents of the District conflict
Furthermore, If the Commissioners
were TO defer their reports upon all
measures until the will of the majority
could be ascertained, their reports might
be Indefinitely delayed. 1t must be
borne in mind that Congress has pro-
Vided no way, and there is in fact no
way that the Commissioners could de-
wise, for ascertaining the will of the ma
Jority within the District. Through the
medium of the citizens associations,
the Commissioners obtain valuable sug-
gestions, but We must all admit that
they represent really small minority
Of the taxpayers and residents of the
District.
No Time for Hearings.
ITO give hearings upon each of the
bills submitted to the Commissioners
by Congress, and upon proposed meas
uEeS originating Will lHeLuI would mo-
nopolize almost their entire time, and
leave them little energy for the dis
charge of their other duties, many of
which are quite as exacting. Besides
the additional labor it would impose
on the Commissioners, 1t would re-
Quire a material increase in the cler-
ical force, and in other ways would add
largely to current expenses.
1.-The Commissioners duly appreciate
the solicitude of your organization for
the betterment of the municipal ad-
ninistration of the National Capital
and its substantial prosperity, and shall
esteem suggestions already made in
that behalf and invite its advice and
criticism In the future, but can not &C
cept the view of their duty and re-
sponsibility which the suggestions con-
tairad az, rnIr. Latter saem to innplY.n