Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-06
Ousting of Roger Williams
Amazes Those Who Recall
Merit Pledge.
THINK 1T "QUEER" MODEL
FOR CITY GOVERNMENT
Deposed Excise Board Clerk Declared
to Have Unusual Record
of Efficiency.

Criticism of any model government
plan proposed for Washington by the
new administration which would permit,
for reasons apparently political. the FIR
ing" of an official who had served the
municipality faithfully thirty-five years
was heard in many quarters of the capital
today, following the failure of the excise
board to appoint Roger Williams as chief
clerk to that body.
That the selection of Edward ]. Hart of
Jersey City TO fill the position OF clerk
to the board is White House appoint
ment is the statement made by persons
in touch with the situation who claim
that had no pressure been brought TO
bear on the board, the excise commits
sioners would have retained Mr.. Williams
In office.
Has Record of Efficiency.
Prominent District officials and citt-
zens today Joined in expressing regret
over the unfortunate circumstances re-
sulting in the legislating out of office
of Mr. Williams, whose record of thir-
ty-five years service in the local gov
eminent is noteworthy for it's eff
cheney. They recalled statements made
at the beginning of the present admin
istration to the effect that political
debts were not to be paid with DIS
trict jobs
1t is the consensus Of opinion of Off
Gals and employees In the Municipal
building that no District officer has
been more faithful or conscientious IN
former excise board clerk. and his
turning out of office they find difficult
to harmonic with the announced in
tention of the administration to estab-
lish in Washington model municipal
government based on principles OF
merit and devoid entirely of politics.
Not only does Mr.. Williams lose his
position. but, under recent ruling OF the
controller OF the Treasury. he is to go
unpaid for two months service rendered
the District. following the going out Of
existence of the old excise board.
No Salary Since July I.
The current appropriation act provides
for the salaries of the employees of the
old board. but the controller, in an opin-
ion handed down August q, decided that
the payments were not authorized. MIR.
Williams. therefore. rendered gratuitous
service from July 1. the beginning of the
fiscal year, until August q.
Realizing that with the modest salary
of $500 appropriated annually for the
compensation of the excise board clerk
Mr.. Williams opportunities for amass-
ing any considerable portion of this
worlds goods have been slight. the
District Commi ssioners, it Is believed.
will make an effort to find a position
for Mr.. Williams in some other branch
OF the District service. This may be
difficult to do. however, as vacancies
are scarce.
The excise board will get down to
work in earnest Monday, with the ar
rival from Jersey City of Mr. Hart, who
recently graduated from st. Peters
College and Is twenty-five years of
spector Of saloons early next week.
At a meeting being held this after
noon the Anti-Saloon League will map
out plans for opposing the granting or
a large number of applications for
saloon license renewals recently filed
with the board.
Contention of League Attorney.
Whether the league is to take the posi-
ton that certain prohibitive clauses in
the excise law designed to reduce the
number Of saloons In Washington to 800
or less are now In effect probably will
be decided at today's meeting. 1t is the
contention Of certain officials of the or
ganization. including A. E. Shoemaker,
attorney. that the prohbitfve clauses be-
came effective with the passage of the
law. and that the provision that no deal
er operating within the law shall be de-
priyed of his license before November l,
a year hence, applies only to the proprie-
tors of those saloons that remain after
the restrictive sections have been en-
forced.
Mr.. Shoemaker was on hand at the first
regular meeting Of the excise board yes
terday prepared to oppose the granting
OF certain license application renewals
had the board taken up any business of
this character.