Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19

Continued from First Page.)
lives in the Northwest, and it is more
than probable that the Commissioner
at large would be resident of that
west two Commissioners and make it
necessary for them to secure the con-
currence of only one of the other
Commissioners to give them a ma
jority of the board on any question.
THE present Commissioners have
repeatedly stated to committees of
Congress that the number of depart
ments under each Of them is so large
and the burden of work upon them Is
so great that they are not familiar
with the operations of the various
branches of the District Government
and have to depend almost entirely
upon their subordinates for informa
ton concerning municipal affairs. The
addition of two Commissioners should
enable the board to redistribute the
present assignment of departments so
that the Commissioner responsible for
each may actually direct the opera
tions of that department, instead of
relying wholly upon an inferior execu-
tive.
Senate CONTINUATION Eliminated.
1.-THE bill continues the present sys-
tenn of appointment by the President,
but vests their appointment exclu-
sively in him without requiring con-
firmation of their nominations by the
Senate, under the authority given in
the Constitution. The President,
therefore, will be solely responsible for
the selection of suitable personnel on
the board
1.-THE present term Of four years for
the Commissioners is continued.
1.-The matter of suffrage, both local
and national, is still matter for fur
Their consideration by the people of the
District and by Congress. and this
bill does not in any way affect final
determination Of that question. Should
Congress by legislation at a future
date grant suffrage to the District, the
Board of Commissioners provided for
in this bill would then be elected by
the people instead of being appointed
by the President.
1.-THE selection of an engineer com.
missioner from the Army Corps Of
Engineers is abolished, and the quail
ifications of the board of five COM
missioners is left entirely to the dis
erection Of the President, but it is more
than probable that the President would
deem it advisable to have one of the
Commissioners an engineer skilled in
| the science of municipal adminiStra-
ton. The suggestion has been made
| that an ideal selection of Commission
ers would be to have one civil engi-
, neer, one lawyer. one medical man,
one banker or financier, and one man
with general business experience.
However, this matter is left to the
| good judgment of the President, as it
| Is not believed he should be restricted
to any particular class of individuals.
Must Be Residents.
THE only qualifications prescribed
| for the Commissioners are in section
8, that they shall be of good moral
character and shall have been bona
fide residents of the District of CO.
lumbia' for three years before their
appointment. The present require.
| ment that they shall not have main
tanned a, voting residence elsewhere
| is abolished.
I'm regard to removal from office
of the Commissioners, in addition to
the provision in section 2, that the
Commissioners may be removed dur
| ing their term of office by the Presi-
dent in his discretion. section 8 fur.
Their provides that if any Commits.
sioner during his term of Office shall
| be guilty of any palpable omission of
| duty, or shall be guilty of willful and
| corrupt oppression. malfeasance or
! partially, where no special provision
shall have been made for the punish.
| ment thereof, he shall be fined not
to exceed $4,000, and shall be re-
moved from Office. The action against
such Commissioner would be prose-
cuted on Information or indictment,
and hs would he vivian a trial in the