Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-31

Deen maze almost exclusively on merit,
with the result that a highly efficient
organization for the conduct Of the Dis
trict's affairs has been built up. Not a
week has passed for the last ten or
fifteen years but what some repre-
sentative Of some American city has
come to Washington to find out how
best to render this or that municipal
service.
In its paving, its public lighting. its
sewer system, its water system, its
health department, its accounting meth
DDS and in many other ways 1t has for
years been a model for other munich
palities. In thirty-eight years Wash
ington has had but one case of peculation
on the part of an officer or an employe.
Students Of municipal government at
tribute the efficiency and integrity of
the District establishment to the fact
that commission of only three, who
cannot dodge responsibility. is given
executive control, and to the further
fact that the commission is selected by
the President of the United States and
Is continually answerable to him and
to Congress.
Two notable achievements have mark
ed the history of commission govern
ment in Washington In recent years
One Is the work of the commission
with regard to public utilities. When
1t started to regulate public utilities it
found that nobody knew anything about
the value Of the properties of the COM
panies. In view of the fact that the
Supreme Court Of the United States has
fair return upon the value of the prop
erty used in the conduct of its busi-
ness. the Commissioners saw that be-
fore they could intelligently and effec-
lively regulate rates and service they
would have to know the real value Of
those properties. They got an appro-
priation Of $4,000 and employed ex-
perts to make a complete valuation of
light company, the gas company. the
telephone company and the taxicab
companies. This work is nearing COM
pletion. and when it is done there will
be on record, for the first time in the
history of Washington, actual and ac-
curate information as to the exact
amount upon which the utility COM
panies are entitled to earn dividends.
Rates will then be fixed on that basis.
The other notable achievement Is the
District Of Columbia workhouse, sit
uated On
Workhouse Another 1000 acres
Notable Achievement. ~. v,re,n,a
side Of the Potomac river, twenty-five
miles below Washington. Six hundred
are cared for there under open treat
ment." They are housed at night in
one-story dormitories containing from
time they are employed at outdoor
work or at industrial work in one
story building, at least one side of
which is open to all outdoors. There
are no bolts. bars or locks on any of
the buildings. The 1000 acres are not
even fenced and the 700 prisoners are
watched over by fifty unarmed guards.
The net result Of 1--WE years operation
of the institution Is that when prison.
ers are discharged they are better men
than they were when committed re-
suit just the opposite to that attained
by most penal institutions.
The Significance of Washington's ex-
that it has lasted a long time. OF
course. since the Commissioners are
appointed by the President, and not
elected by the people. the conditions
are different from those in any other
American city. Nevertheless. the es-
sential principle of commission gov
eminent is here, and 1t has worked well
for long time.
So uniform has the SUCCESS of COM
mission government been that an ex-
ISnQSQ analysis OI lLS TcSull6 10 SCdICc-
ly necessary. Sumter has demonstrated
that high-priced city manager is not
practicable in small towns, and that a
small commission is highly so. The ex-
perience of Des Moines shows that a
commission government will not be any
more efficient than its members, and
also that it will make their inefflciency
strikingly apparent. Salem. the one
city that went back. is too lonely to be
significant. OF the oth}r four hundred
mr. ynore the vast majority have en-
joyed a striking success under the new
city management. In most Of them it
is a success that has yet to stand the
test of time and promises to stand 1t
well.
one big thing commission govern
ment has accomplished everywhere it
has created q new municipal spirit,
given the American citizen a new sense
Of pride and ownership in his home
town.