Evening star., 1896-06-11
THE CHARITIES COMMISSION
The Vice President Appoints Mr.. Harris
as Chairman.
Although 1t Was Generally Under
stood That Mr.. Mcmillan Should
Have That Office.

At 1 o'clock today Vice President Steven
son, then occupying the chair, announced
that under the authority Of the District
appropriation bill he had designated Sena-
tors Harris, Faulkner and Mcmillan to
represent the Senate on the Joint commis-
sion to investigate the charities and re-
formatory Institutions of the District; the
first named under the custom indicated AS
chairman. AS 1t was generally understood
that Mr.. McMilsn, chairman of the Dis
trict committee, was the chairman of the
commission this announcement caused
considerable surprise. 1t was said that 1t
had been arranged by the steering COM
rnittee of the Senate, as well as the appro-
priationS cor1mittee, that Mr. Mcmillan
should he the chairman of the joint COM
mission by virtue Of being the senior men,
ber of the Senate committee
Senator Faulkner. as a member Of the ap-
preparations committee, as we'll as of the
Dis trict committee was party to the un-
derstandng that the joint commission so
far as the Senate was concerned, sho lid
Faulkner. Personally he did not care to
serve on the commission. but consented to
do so il order to give the two committees
on the District and appropriations a 1cint
representative on the commission
Senator Allison had been consulted In re-
gard to The matter by the members Of the
steering committee of both parties, and
had Informed them that when the confer
ence committee on tho District bill agreed
to provide for commission to inyesti gate
the charities 1t was the particular under
standing OF all six OF those conferees that
Mr.. Mcmillan should be chosen as chair
nan by virtue not only of his position as
chairman of the District committee, but
also because of his acquaintance with the
subject This understanding carried with
1t an agreement that Mr.. Mcmillan should
choose the clerk of the joint commission
and that this selection should fall upon Mr.
Charles Moore, clerk of the Senate District
&C mmittee.
1t now turns out, however that Mr.. Har-
rfs went to the Vice President and secured
from him promise to appoint him (Harris)
as chairman of the joint commission by
ma ne ming him first among the three Senator's
Inc Vice President, it is said, did not con-
suit with any members of the steering
committee or Of the appropria tons commit
tee, or. beyond Mr.. Harris, of the District t
committee bu texercised the literal author
tty contained nj the District appropriation
bill giving him the power to make the ap-
pointments. He siezed the first opportunity
after the bill had become a law to make
the announcement of his choice which 40
surprised the Senate.
1t seemed likely today that the misunder-
standing will seriously emharrass the COM
mission.
1t is extremely doubtful whether Mr. Nc
Milan Will take any part whatever in the
proceedings of the commission under the
circumstances. and 1T is said that Mr..
Faulkners interest has been greatly chill
ed by the action of the Vice President.
1t is not known who will he seleC ted to
sserve as clerk of the commission. 1t was
the plan that Mr.. Moore should utilize the
summer in collecting informatio to be
considered by the commission when that
body should meet in this city next Novem-
ber.
Senator Allison said this afternoon to a
Star reporter that he had not been con-
suited in the least in regard to the appoint
merit Of the Senate members Of the joint
tee had been consulted by the Vice Presi-
dent. Although indicating his surprise at
the unusual action, he would say nothing
furt her.
This afternoon the Speaker appointed
Representatives Pitney, Blue and Dockery
to be the House members Of the joint COM
mission