Evening journal., 1914-01-20
GOVERNMENT
Oh CAPITAL
Is LAUDED
Former Commissioner of Dis
trlCt Of Columbia Praises
Men NhO lave Served
Country
Mr.. WEST OPPOSES
REFERENDUM AND RECALL

Henry Litchfield West, formerly
commissioner Of the District Of Co /
lumbia for seven years, was an inter
esting speaker at the Wilmington
High School this morning Mr. West
addressed the members of the Senior
Civics Glass, and presented the gov
ernmental affairs of the capital be-
forc them concisely and comprehen
siveiy, and IN most interesting man
ner
Edgar NJ Hopes. who Is entertain
ing Mr.. West during his stay in the
city, was a guest of honor. as also
We're Professor A. II. Berlin and Pro-
fessOr Jones of the English depart
ment. Several other guests were al
so present
In his address. Mr.. West described.
in detail. the existing conditions In
| Washington, preceding the changes
brought by the Civil War. lie de-
scrbed the anxiety over election mat
ters az that time because of the right
OF ballot having been given TO a ma
/ joriiy population which he said at
that time was then negroes--a
matter which was decided by Con-
gress denying every one the right to
vote.
The subject of the half and half
proposition, when Congress appro-
priated so per cent. of the expenses
and the taxpayers the other so per
cent. was discussed in detail by Mr..
West
The District Of Columbia. the
speaker said, was often known as the
Little Kingdom OF the President
and in illustration be gave examples
of the Presidents power of appoint
g ments as the dominant figure in the
. government affairs
= Particular attention is given TO
local appointments. the claim Of each
aspirant being carefully weighed IN
the balance No official Mr.. West
said, had ever proved unfaithful TO
imposed trust. nor has there ever
E been at any time the slightest suspi-
cion of graft. which he said, was a
: splendid record Mentioning the
power of authority which had been
ded Gated long ago. by Congress as
, to the commissioners, Mr.. West re-
( ferr especially to the police regu-
= lations under which the commits
r. sioners are empowered to do almost
/ anything. This power imposed in
the commissioners. he said, had never
been arbitraril eXercs sed. The
newspapers were mentioned as being
factor I'm creating public sentiment
Mr. West also spoke in detail on
the subject OF the referendum and
recall Mention was also made of IN,
! careful expenditure Of money
r Mr.. West spoke of the expenditure
of S60,OOOO0O during his period of of
u nee. every penny Of which was ac
y counted for
a There was mo- other city ia th
United State he said. where "a taNpaye
= cot more for hi, money than in Wash
y mgton The government has been re
J. .ponsihle for millions and millions O
dollars. ala OF which has been eXpende
z without a breath of scandal he said.
= lt Is great thing Tor The Unite
= States. Mr.. West said TO have a capl
!. tai which is free from the corruption
prevalent elsewhere.
u All this being true. he said it wa
not strange that the population shoui
b, be one OF the highest order. But, he sai'
y the Washington of today is not ti
- Washington 1T wants to be, ana
y though much has been done in tort
Z wears. much remains TO be done II
y. inhabitants want it TO bc model cit
= beautiful with model streets. laws an
~ care Tor the uniortunates. III did nc
7 require the gift OF prophecy, MI. Me'
said. 20 say that ii the people do the
:. duty by Washington IL VIII be the hnei
> capital city ever known.
Al the close Of his address Mr. We
= was asked question concerning ms
itude on the referendum and recall
other cities. He replied chat he hs
positive views ON the subject OF q
referendum and proceeded to give b
views IN detail
Mr.. West said he believed me
we're born with an instinct Of go
ernment and that he thought bett
TO delegate the law makins to me
who have made a deep study OF q
subject rather than delegate It indi
criminately TO men who were n
versed on such subjects
Mr.. West referred to the rece
mutiny case here as a concrete ca
of the referendum and compared Il
present method of trial by a jury
twelve men TO that in past times whit
the entire population OF a town vot
on the question of q mans guilt
Referring to the recall, Mr.. we
spoke of his absolute opposition
the recall Of judges and of his fai
IN the judiciary. saying that the m
elected have always reflected gre
credit upon American citizenship.
He said he thought the recall
judges would have more to do wi
the upsetting of stability and inte
rity than any one thing.
In closing, Mr.. West said 1T
will Of the people is beautiful, b
the will of people expressed In pc
ple of honesty and integrity, vi
have been selected by the people
do their work, is still more beau
full.
"No one welcomes any change
the betterment of humanity mo
heartily than I" said Mr.. West "h
Pm from Missouri and you've E
to show me-
Mr.. West was given a rising W
of thanks for his address.
Later I'm the morning. Mr. West,
Hopes and the other guests visit
the domestic science department
the school. and saw the young "
men at work preparing th- da
school luncheon.
TO CONSIDER EOUSE QUESTIC
Il is expected that the combin
committee of the Social Service CT
and the Delaware Society Of Soc