Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-17
TAL|AFERRO WILL
WELCOME INQUIRY
Writes Letter Saying
Charges Involving His Office
Should Be Disposed Of.

Any investigation of the departments
under his supervision is welcomed by
Commissioner Sidney F. Taliaferro.
This statement from the Commissioner
is contained in letter to Senator
r. M Sackett Of Kentucky, chairman of
q subcommittee of the Senate District
committee, under consideration today
The subcommittee plans to delve into
the Police Department and United
States attorneys ONCE.
Commissioned Taliaferro wrote that
numerous editorials published in WASH
ington newspapers recently, If proved,
would show inefaciency and corruption
and III true should cause the immedi-
ate dismissal of those concerned, and
II untrue should 0g as early as possible
shown to be exaggerated" Among the
men he said were mentioned in the
editorials are the District Commits
sioners, offlcials Of the Police Depart
ment and the District attorneys ONCE.
Declaring he had been appointed
without seeking the ONCE, Commissioner
Taliaferro added he is conscious of
nearly three years of hard work and
District, of Columbia, and / can but
deplore blanket suggestion of possible
inefnciency and corruption upon the
part of the Commissioners, based upon
numerous reports and newspaper edi-
torials and articles
Senator Sackett said today he was
not planning to make an immediate re-
ply to the letter, adding that he did not
regard an answer as necessary at the
present time. The Senator said the let
ter had not been asked for, but he
thought 1t was fair statement.
Text Of Letter.
Mr.. Taliaferro's letter follows:
My Dear Senator Sackett:
ION October IL, 1929, there was re-
ferred to your subcommittee Senate res
olution l27, providing for an investiga-
ton of the government of the District
of Columbia The preamble to the res
olution reads:
Whereas, numerous reports of news
pauer editorials have appeared and are
now daily appearing in reference to the
official conduct of those in charge of
the Police Department, the detective
department, the district attorneys Of
fee and the District Commissioners,
and those public Offices connected with
the government of the District OF CO.
lumbia, which reports, II true, show in
ef1cien.y and corruption in said gov
ernment, and which, II true, should
cause the immediate dismissal of all
who are connected with the control OF
these departments, and which, If not
true, should be as early as possible
shown to be exaggerated
THE Commissioners of the District
of Columbia function under the law as
a board. but, from considerations of
practical necessity in the conduct of a
business of over 10000, 900 annually,
apportion and allot among themselves
the several departments of the munich
pal government Those branches of
the municipal organization of which
have direct charge and responsibility
are: Corporation counsel's office, au-
ditor'S ONCE, assessors Office, collector
of taxes Office, purchasing ONCE, in
surance department. playground depart
ment and board of accountancy. The
Board of Public Welfare, set up under
authority of law to have direct control
Of all District of Columbia correctional
and charitable institutions, reports
through me to the Board of District
Commissioners.
Did Not Seek Office.
Having been honored with an ap-
pointnent which I did not seek, 1 am
conscious of nearly three years OF hard
work and answering effort as an ON
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