The times., 1897-12-31
TRANSFER OF CAPT. BLACK
A Report That He May Leave the
District Board.
Mr.. re IS to Rec Give a Hearty Vel
come on His Return Today
More Runors.

One rumo" of changes In the board OF
District Commissioners VIII re- set AT rest
effcc:uaily today but there is anothr-
et;ualIy as startling to take its place.
Commissioned Ross, who has been alb
sent from the District building and fr M
the city for month, will return today and
H. at his desk at O:30 O'Clock.
II is stated. however, with some degree
OF authority, that Engineer Commission. .r
Black is to retire. Mr.. Ross left the cit =
suddenly inoHth ago. i few da VS. after
his departure it was learned that there hail
been a rupture III the board, and that Nj
Ross had rendered his resignation TO the
President With TIE story of this resisna-
tion came also the statement that IL had
been withdrawn at the earnest solicitation
OF the other two Commissioners, IN | tie
refusal of President Mckinley to con
slider IL.
Mr.. Ross is so popular y man and officer
that ever since that tiue the reasons for
his resignatior AMI al the possible uutcofaes
Of the division OF the board have be / a
fruitful subject of discussion.
1t was ut first asserted positively ~
intimate friends OF Mr.. Rosl that he wo.ld
never return to the board, despite all state
nents to the contrary.
1t was sam by these people that Mr..
Ross was grievousIy uffenied at certain
actions teken by the ether Commissioners
and one cr item in particular, and that
matters were in such condition thai Ie
would not he at ca sc on the board as it l.
constituted.
1t is insisted by these friends Of Com
missioner Ross that his return now
means hot that he differences in the
board have been tiiSpellcd, but that the
change Will Elm another dir rection inst id.
The Engineer Commissioner, Capt Black.
is member of the Engineer Corps OF the
Army. One member of the board OF three
Commissioners OF the District must be, by
law, an officer OF the Engineer Corps
The appointment Of this Army officer 10
the board is not for any specified term.
He is detailed by the President on the
recommendation OF the chief OF engineers
of the Army. When, iii the opinion OF tht
Brisadicr- General Wilson or President Me
kinley transfer of officers and the ~.
pnintment OF another TO the post at Wash
inSton might he deemed desirable, it
might be made at any time. II is stated
that there is to be a transfer now within
few days, ana that another my officer
is tn take Capt. Blacks place. The two
gentlemen Hier toned in this Connection are
Capt. Simonds ana Ma ior RoessIe
Major ROesS;e was the engineer Corl
missioner ho gave WAY 70 Capt. Black;
Capt. SimOuds was the assistant engineer
commissioner under Major Roessle
At the White House and at ne Dist rj,t
building no Confirmation of the report can
be obtained. The Commissioners and Mr..
Porte al STATE that they know nothin.
of such change being in contemplation.
Tine preparations among the clerks at
TIE District Building for Mr.. Ross re-
turn have teen extensive. lie will D..
given such welcome as will leave ns
question in his mind rs To the sincetitc
of the respect and friendship that is felt
for him by those with whom he has been
associated fol SO many years. His room
viii Ia, almost a tower Of flowers con
rihuted hy the clerks and his many
other friends.