The Washington times., 1924-05-28
The Merit System Should Pre-
vail in District Government
By BILL PRICE.

The chairman Of thu Board Of Commissioners of the District
CUN0 a. RUDOLPH reveals flash Of real backbone when
he informs the White House that the intention Of the
Commissioners to cut off the official head the local Col
etor of Taxes the bhest Of Ohio Oongresnen who want
Republican" appointed to that office
Commissioner Rudolph made it plain to Secretary SLENEP
who will doubtless transmit the boards position to the Prs
dent that Mr. TOWERS has politics at ALL that he won
his place on promotion having begun work messenger in
the same office thirty years ago. =
It hoped the Commissioners will continue to build upon
the backbone shown in this and that they win finally at
tain an official spinal column that will tell all politicians who
want to make pos establishment the District Building
Just where to get off,
There Is little be said Of creditabe na+nre az In tho
yielding of District Commissioners to political pressure from
Congress and the White House. As q rule however our Com
msoners have fought against rank outsiders beiur forced
upon them for appointment to lucrative positions They have
insisted that men appointed shall have had Identification
with Washington affairs claim residence here that
would qualify them as Washingtonians
MOST Commissioners Of the District have stood for home
rule in the Municipal Building and for the retention Of
worthy employees who have their places on merit and
faithful attention to duties but they not always held out
against pressure when loyal citizens of the District thew
should have done matter what the consequences The
Job OF District Commissioner should be so aurnp as to
tempt any loyal citizen of the District permit politicians
Republican or Democratic to apply the old adage Ito the
vctors belong the spo the Commissioners were elected
by the people Of this CITY, they should be- they would
pay no attention to requests and political leaders
VINO want to dump their supporters into the positions
in the District The Commissioners are political
appontees themselves though though they are as
rule, fullfedged citizens Of this city
The average Washgtonan has little idea Of the pressure
to which the Commissioners subjected Big and little
statesmen the Hill flood the District Building with recon-
mendaons for appointments and promotions They 20 SO
Tar at times as to demand the granting of their requests
When it remembered that the Commissioners dependent
Congress for appropriations for the District
legislation OF all kinds the position in which they are placed
may be readily understood Experience has the Com
mlssloners that congressman who the Of the
District and its future generally the persistent and
determined in trying to put through requests The more
they yielded to the they become trying to con-
troll vacancies that be open When they are turned
down they become bitter.
This dsagreeabe situation inevitable under system of
Commissioners who feel under obligations to
politicians OF the party in power The Democratic ad
used its to the fullest extent Repu
ican administration has done the same thing
Positions in the District Government properly belong to
genuine citizens of this city who pay the bulk Of money
which supports that Appointments should be based
upon merit qualifications and character Congress refuses the
people Of this city the right to vote doesn't recognize
them as Americans insists that they shall pay full
OF taxes and then wants to gobbe up every position in the
District Government that is worth anything
We not only have taxation without representation but we
have taxation without the right to people to
positions of public service ]0Eo