The Washington times., 1913-06-27
THE NEW COMMISSIONERS.

In Washington, where among disfranehiset
people political afilation is unmportant, men come
to the top more by reason of civic than merely po
tcal activities. Organization politics means little
and offers small temptation to men who in othe
communities would be active in order to further in
terest OF ambition. The recognition which men &c
through partisan activity in other places they mus
get here through interest in enterprises looking
social betterment through other activities. For th
kind of activity there is small prospect of reward
and therefore men and women who engage in il ma!
safely be set down as of the type that desires Il
serve without self-interest.
The Monday Evening Club is one of the organi
cations in which people of this disposition hav'
gathered themselves together. 1t is not neighbor
hood improvement society to promote local concerns
nor is it political body. 1t has tried to take vieS
sociological, economic, business. 1t has seriousl!
studied such highly practical problems as milk sup
ply, excise legislation sanitation, relations witt
public utility corporations 1t has brought together
body of earnest and industrious men and women fo
these purposes; and to its credit may be placed {
good deal of inspiration that preceded useful accom-
plshment.
The Monday Evening Club does not need thi.
izing the Presidents selection of the rwo civil Com
mssioners of the District. In naming Oliver P
Newman and Frederick L. Siddons, the Presden
chose two men who have been officers and very &C
tive workers in the Monday Evening Club. Ths
kind of service to be expected from them may bt
judged from the activities Of that organization. Prob
ably the President did not know that they we're bot
members Of it. Doubtless it is coincidence that h,
made both selections from this body. But some
knowledge of the purposes and enterprises Of ths
organization warrants confidence that the selection
deserve the hearty appreciation Of that vast majorit,
who believe that the city should be administered fo
the largest benefit of the whole people.
The Presidents appointments are personal selec
tions dictated generally by the Presidents own sym
pathies with the same interests and ideals that Civ.
impulse to activities of this kind. Mr.. Newman ha
had an especially wide experience in the study o
governmental and administrative problems. As
newspaper worker, he has reported the work o
legislatures in Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, and New Jer
sey, as we'll as the sessions of Congress. He ha
been intimately concerned with details Of city ad
ministration wherever he has lived With this funt
of experience, observation and study, he brough
into close personal contact with Mr.. Wilson loni
before that gentleman was elected President. Th
President, widely credited with some capacity TO
judgment in such matters, found Mr.. Newman botl
informed and sympathetic, with wide knowledge o
Washington conditions. He advised with and aide
the President, with no thought of any other thai
impersonal interest. Newspapermen are accustome
to that relationship, always presumng that their owl
part must be the detached one the observer an
commentator Mr.. Wilson developed the notion tha
newspaperman with precisely the equipment to d
the work. might well do it as to advise about no,
to get somebody else to do it.
Mr. Sddons is longtime resident of Washing
ton lawyer and citizen of the hest standing, an
fully in accord with the attitudes of the President an
Mr. Newman toward Washington affairs. The Pres
ident has been taking keen interest in this city, wit
desire to do what may be possible to realize the des
of model city, in both physical aspect and com
munity service He has chosen his Commissioner
with this in view, and there is every reason to be
lieve that he has chosen wisely.
. The new administration of Washington confront
a great opportunity, and one which the new Com
missioners appreciate. They are the sort of men
appreciate it, and that is why they are Commission
ers The work of the Public Utilities Commission
is to be organized and established the service prop
critics are to be valued the new excise law is to b
administered, and all the multiplied activities of tn
local government to be carried forward. Tn
task is one worthy the best talent and all possibl
energy; and the President has placed it in the hand
of men emnently equipped with both talents, enel
gies, enthusiasm, and ideals.