National Republican., 1882-12-16
THE DISTRICT CoMMrss1oNsH1P.
The Question Of the Term OF Service SUBJ
mitted 10 the Attorney Genernl-who are
Said to Have the Inside Track.

The Question Of the Term Of Service SUBJ
,nitted 10 the Attorney GenernI-Who are
Said TO Have the Inside Track.
The question of the appointment of the
district commissioner was considered at the
cabinet meeting yesterday, but no definite
decision was reached. 1t seems that the presi-
dent is in some doubt as to whether the APP
pointment should be for an unexpircd term,
extending until tho 1st Of next July, or for
full term Of three years. When Maj. Morgan
was appointed to the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Capt Phelps, it was generally
supposed that his appointment was only for the
uneXpired term, and would end on July 1,
1850. Consequently, when that date drew
near, Mr.. Hayes was bcseiged by applicants
for the position which it was supposed would
soon be vacant. As Maj, Morgan was an es
pocial protege of Mr.. Hayes, the question of
the duration of his term of office was referred
to Atty. Gen. Devens, and that officer returned
an opinion that there was nothing to prevent
Mai. Morgan from holding the position for the
full term of three years from the date of his
appointment. That relieved the amiabe Mr..
Hayes from further importantly, which was
all he wanted. There is no doubt that the
law of 1878 establishing permanent form of
government for the district, contemplated that
the term of Office of the two civilian commits
sioners should commence on July |, just the
same as the senatorial tenure commences on
the 4th of March, The law provided that at
| first one commissioner should be appointed
| for one year, one for two years, and
| that afterwards their successors should
hold office for three years; and it is
the belief of legal gentlemen who have
examined the matter that Mr. Hayes erred in
not making Maj. Morgan's appointment for
the unexpired term made vacant by Capt.
| Phelps's resignation, viz to July |, $780, and
then if he so desired, reappoint him for a full
term of three years. The President is evil
IDENTIFY of this belief for he has submitted the
question to the attorney general for his
| opinion as to whether the appointment now
about to be made shall be until July l
next, or for full torn of three years.
1t is believed that that officer will decide that
an appointment at this time should only be
made until July /, 1883 No decision as to
who the new appOinteo will be has yet been
reached, although those most prominently
mentioned rs possessing the best chances are
Maj. Morgan, Mr., John r. Mitchell, and Mr..
John +. Olmstead, with the probabilities
somewhat in favor of the last named. Maj.
Morgan was very busy yesterday en-
dcavoring to strengthen his stand
by Maj. Lydecker, the engineer commissioner
The friends of Mr.. Mitchell are quite con-
tident of his selection. The submission OF
the question of the term of office to the attor-
ney general may delay the President in max
ing the nomination until Monday, although
in view of the action of the second comptroller
in declining to approve the requistion until
the new commissioner is appointed makes il
desirable that there should be no delay.
1t was stated in many quarters last evening
and by some it was believed, that Mr.. John
F, Olmstead had been appointed, but inquiry
of Mr.. Olmstead himself and of those believed
to be in position to know if any appoint
ment had been made failed to confirm the
rumor, 1t is believed that the statement
above fully sets forth the present condition OF
the matter.