Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-25
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The District Commissioner5hip.

Commissioner Brownlow's resigna-
ton to accept the position of "City
Manager Of Petersburg, Va, is re
hection upon the adequacy of the
salary paid to the District municipal
heads for their services. That city
of $4,000 population can afford to pay
its chief executive $4,000 year while
the District pays each of its mayors"
only 5000 shows that the local scale
Of compensation is altogether too low.
Mr.. Brownlow's departure from
Washington will be the occasion for
deep regret. He has served the Dis
trict capably and zealonsiy, untiring1y
and conscientiously. he has had many
difficult problems to fsce. A. the only
civilian Commissioner during the past
ten months he has borne heavy bur-
den, unrelieved by assistants qualified
under the law to replace him in case
of absence. his entire term Of service
has been succession of hard problems,
which he has approached in spirit Of
sincere desire to work out the best in
terests of the District.
Now two vacancies in the board Of
Commissioners are to be filled by presi-
Dental appointment, one of long stand
ing and a new one in immediate pros
pest. A nomination for the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Commits
sioner Gardiner was after long con-
sideration by tho Senate rejected. Tho
District has been without the services
Of Commissioner during many
months in consequence, running on
two-thirds allowance of officials.
Announcement Of Commissioner
Brownlow's resignation has brought
forth, as usual, numerous suggestions
Of possibilities" Some of the names
proposed are familiar, others are new.
The names of women appear in the
list, owing, doubtless, to the recent en-
Reimbursement of the women Of all the
country but the District. The Presi-
dent will have no lack Of material for
his choice.
TIE Districts hope is that two peo-
pie Will be chosen, fully qualified by
their familiarity with District eondi-
tions and unquestionably eligible in
point of residence. The places to be
filed are Of unusual importance. The
Commissioners are not merely muuici.
pal administrators, but they constitute
the Public Utilities Commission. Thus
= dual responsibility rests upon each
of the board.
The capital has not always Jared
well in this matter of local appoint.
ments. The law of residence has been
dangerously infringed upon at times,
though its terms are specific. It re-
quiles that the incumbent shall have
been resident of the District for at
least three years prior to appointment,
claiming residence nowhere else mean
while. This means that voter in one
Of the states, or one who is by legal
residence competent to vote elsewhere,
cannot legally be named Commissioner.
In view of the decision of the Supreme
Court that NO resident of the District,
however concerned in the public vel
fare, can challenge the rightfulness of
an appointment because of lack of ~in-
terest in the Office" it is in the utmost
degree necessary that the qualifications
Of all who may be considered are most
thoroughly serutinized at the White
House before selection is made.
Whoever is named, one or two-and
one must be chosen soon else the Dis
triet's municipal administration win
cease to function-should be lesalfy
eligible beyond the shadow of a doubt
and should be competent to deal with
Local Affairs in spirit of regard for
the welfare Of the capital community.