Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-31
A y energetic campaign initiated
I Icy the District Commissioners

A y energetic campaign initiated
. ~ Icy the District Commissioners
a for restoration Of the 60.4(
4 basis OF fiscal relations hetwecr
the District and Federal gov
ernments Is given precedence over the
many epoch-making events recorded
for 1927 in the history Of the municipal
government.
The Commissioners waited until De-
cember 5. the date of the converting
OF the new Congress, to formally sig.
Maize the movement. but in the few
weeks that have followed il has been
given encoura ging impetus by the
civic and trade organizations. The
plans for the campaign. however. were
prepared several months in advance
by Commissioner Sidney F. Taliaferro,
who has devoted considerable time TO
an extensive study of the existing
fiscal relations as we'll as the Districts
present tax system with view to
bringing about certain reforms.
In striking contrast TO the proceed
ing year. 1927. as far as the District
government is concerned. was almost
entirely devoid of sensational con.
greSsional Investigations, or distress.
ing and disturbing events involving
its administrative makeup. Only one
incident approaching stigma married
Its u nerwise unblemished record-the
investigation by the Gibson subcom.
mj~tee Of the House District commit.
tss into the traffic signal light pur.
chases. which ultimately resulted in
ehake-up in the traffic department per.
scnnel and the appointment Of a new
traffic chieftain, William II. Harland,
who came from the Interstate Com
merce Commission with years of en-
perience as an electric signal engineer.
Scandal Not Purpose.
Although, after final adjustment ~
the irregularities in the traffic light
purchases. the Federal Bureau of
Efficiency had its investigators in the
District Building for several months.
methodically ferreting into the affairs
of the various departments. but not
with the intent. 1t was said, of produc-
ing a scandal. II that was the pur-
pose, then the investigations were an
utter failure. The bureau did. how.
ever. make number of recommended
lions to the Commissioners for in
creasing the efficiency of several de.
partments. and some of them were
adopted and put into effect. Notable
among them was the plan for issuing
automobile license tags which has ex.
pedited this work tremendously.
In retrospect. District officials view
the year as one of continued progress.
The appropriations. in general, were
more adequate than those for any
previous year since the United States
entered the World War. The five
year school building program made
another advance toward its goal, de-
spite the limitation placed by Con-
gress on real estate purchases for
school buildings. and the new water |
supply system was completed and put |
into service. Material Improvement |
was made in the condition of the |
highways and several were widened, |
but there is approximately 10 miles |
OF thoroughfares yet unsurfaced. |
determination of the street lighting |
system also was continued on an ex. |
tenSiYe scale under the personal |
supervision Of Maj. William f. X. |
Coveil, senior Assistant Engineer Com. |
missioner.
The beginning of the Federal Gov
ernment's comprehensive public build.
ing program on the triangle south OF
avenue. forcing the re-
moval OF a number of municipal
government activities in this area,
presented District authorities with
the most pressing problem of the year.
Serious study convinced the officials
that the most logical and practical
solution would be TO centralize all
activities Of the municipal govern
ment in one area, and accordingly a
plan Was worked out by Municipal
Architect Albert L. Harris to group
them IN the triangle on the north