Year: 1876

Naule BCW 10TH Cl government lOI Tue


District have decided in favor of plural


executive. This regret is based entirely


upon principle. A divided responsibility


is, in effect, equal to no responsibility. 1t


permits that shifting of the decision of i'm


pcrtsnt matters from the shoulders of one


to another. and the pogtponement of them


until the meeting of full board, which


utterly neutralizes executive power. The


value of executive ability depends so largely


upon promptitude Of decision and irmness


of adherence to decisions when once made,


that we always deprecate a multitude of


voices. A prompt decision, though it be


adverse, is often preferable to favorable


one long delayed. The affairs of this Dis


trict are not so difficult of management as


to require the wisdom of three heads to


diplomatize the common sense out of them.


Numbers tend strongly to obfuscation. Let


us have unit for executive, and then all


can know where to fix the responsibility.


If more than one man is needed, let us


have, in addition to single exc ecutiye, an


administrative council, which may hold


stated meetings with power 70 enact minor


ordinances. But by all means give US an


individual executive, who shall be respon-


sible for the prompt execution Of the laws.


Itis rare, indeed, that an individual will as


sumo doubtful responsibilities, for he koows


that on him alore must rest the blame, if


any attaches. A board will do many things


collectively that neither Of its component


parts would DO siDgly. There is nothing


so effcciual in securing honest and effective


administration n as rigid individual sccount-
ability. And this can only he obtained by


knowing who is responsible for acts done


so that the credit or blame can he placed


where it properly belongs. A plural exec


u.ive favors delay in action. Where the
several members differ in opinion and all
are equally obstinate the delay becomes
amcst iDterm;nable. AID the wheels of
government are partially blocked. If one
leading mind controls tie rest, that mind
is the real executive, and the others are
noneItities OF make shifts, without iDfiu-
ence OF utility. Their salaries might better
be saved to the treasury than expended in
support Of such mere ornamental append


ages.


II is to be hoped that the commission
will provide that the members Of the Dis
trict government shall be residents OF this
District. 1t must be obvious to every one
that those intrusted with the administra-
ticn Of Our affairs should be qualified by
experience and observation, and this can
cnly result from a residence among US.
Other things being equal, it cannot be
denied that familiar acquaintance with the
past history Of our government would be
q decided advantage to the administrative
power Identification with the interests to
be administered and full sympathy with
the people to he governed are always
deemed essential qualifications 10 execu-
tives Of popular government. When we
say this we have no desire or design TO
reflect upon the record of our present gov
eminent. Its members were selected with
a view to silence popular clamor preva-
lent at the time Of their appointment. |
They have done the best they could, aud |
they have done well, but few will believe
that their administration has been as success
ful and effective as it might have been if they
had been all resident among US and closely
identified with our material interests. !
They have labored under the great disad-
vantage of having been unknown to the
great majority of the people at the time of
their appointment, and their ministerial
duties have not been of character to bring
them in contact with any considerable
number of our citizens. Their persons
even are unknown TO the masses. The
American people have natural distaste to
viceroys The genius of our institutions
is utterly opposed 10 such a government
The people of this District are not unlike
those in the States in this respect. They |
like 10 know their rulers. Il is undeniable |
that they would Ike to be consulted in |
the selection ofthem.1 This is but natural. |


What have they done that they should |
be entirely deprived of this precious bOon
of sufragef They readily admit that
owing TO the blending of their individual
interests with those of the National Coy
eminent they are an exceptional case.
They have no desire to elect rulers to con-
troll and manage Government property.
But they demand some voice in the man
agement and control Of their own. Is this
Is there any other spot in
The United States where suffrage is entirely |
ignoredf Are the people of this District
not up to the average in point of intelli-
genceS Have they not cheerfully paid
taxes above the average of the country for
the support of schoolsf Are they not en-
titled 10 the credit of superior school sys-
temf Is not the District fully as capable
Of self government in all respects as any
other place of equal population? The
il bound to- admit, the affirma-
live of these interrogatories. What, then,
can be the objection to giving US form Of


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