Evening star., 1921-03-27
D, c. HEADS START
BUSINESS REGIME
WITH CONFIDENCE
Efficiency Is WatchWord
Given Emp|oyes-UtiIity
Companies Cautioned.
BY JOHN l.. MARTIN.

Although they have been in Office
Cuno H. Rudolph and James F. Oys-
ter aaye got off to an impressive
start on their promises to give the
District business ADMINISTRATION.
They, have put the municipal gov
ernment on Its toes by laying down
the rule that to hold ohe's job one
must be efilcient.
They have inaugurated an inquiry
that win produce a merit rating for
every employe.
And this week they will begin
holding regular cabinet" meetings
with the bureau chiefs, which are ex-
pected to SO coordinate the service
that it will function harmoniously
and effectively.
Masters Of Detail.
The Commissioners have had only
odd moments in which to do these
things. Most of their time has been
taken up with consideration OF pub
lie utility rate questions. Neverthe-
less, they have created the impress
sion throughout the District building
that they are going to supervise af-
fairs SO closely that not the smallest
details wilk escape notice.
With their colleague on the utilities
board. Engineer Commissioner Kutz
| they have reduced the price of gas in
the District from $1.32 to sI25 per
ii ousand cubic feet and substantially
have reached agreements on new
street car and electric rates-accom-
! piishments which would have made the
beginning of their administration
memorable had no other matters been
| considered. But they did not stop
here.
They took hold with a firm hand of
the agitation for motion picture
censorship and instructed the cor
poration counsel to draft regulations
for the control of Washington's
movies.
! They also directed this same official
| to prepare the draft of a blue sky
! law, which will be recommended to
Congress.
Commissioner Oyster. in conferences
which he exercises special supervision,
has outlined broadly the administra-
"a principles he wants followed.
! " ith Fire Chief Watson he has dis
| cussed the rule that will govern pro-
motions in the fire department.. with
Maj. Gessford, chief of police. he has
, taken up the question Of law en-
| F@r ri IN fjo,
| with bootlegging.
| He has had talks with traffic Of
ncers about trafiic conditions that
need attention.
| JaIls Investigated.
| Commissioner Rudolph has investi-
gated conditions in the Districts s
penal institutions-the Jail at Wash
| ington, the reformatory at Lorton
| and the workhouse at Occoquan. Va.
He has discussed with Assessor Rich
ards affairs In that Office and generally
/ inspected the accounting branches Of
the government. which are assigned to
his special jurisdiction.
| Among business men OF Washing
ton, CommlSsioner Oysters sugges-
| tion for a compromise on the utility
valuations as basis for a street car
/ merger has attracted more favorable
attention than any proposal that has
como from the District building in
months. 1t generally Is looked upon
as Offering the only satisfactory So
luton Of the unsatisfactory traction
| situation resulting from the compe-
tition of a successful company with
an unsuccessful company
| And business has expressed ap-
proval also of the suggestion that has
como from the Commissioners that il
ldnEuity corporations fail to render sat
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column g.