Evening star., 1897-03-20
HIS MIND NOT MADE UP
The President Has Not Yet Determined on
the District Oommissionership.
Callers mt the White House In Re
half of Cnndislates-An Out
side Man May Win.

| While the President took up the subject
| of the appointment of the District Com
| missioners yesterday evening, he came to
TO definite conclusion. and decided to put
| off the nominations until the early part
| of next week
This morning several candidates for the
! commissionership. with their friends and
| hackers, were at the White House to rut
| in their final arguments.
Among early callers was Senator Gal
| linger. who called to discuss District mat
| tiers. The senator had quite chat with
| the President, and when he came out a
| reporter of The Star accosted him. In re-
ply to a query, he said he called to dis
| cuss the commissionership question. He
was favorable to the appointment of Cha
pin Brown, but was opposed to w. Z.
| Dodge. He did not think the matter would
| be decided until next week, as the Presi-
ator Elkins. who presented the name of
Commissioner John w. Ross for reap
pointment. was also at the White House,
and 1t Is presumed he put in another good
word for the democratic Commissioner.
Ex-Commissioner John w. Douglass, a
| candidate for the republican commissioner
| ship. was also an early caller. but simply
paid his respects to Secretary Porter.
| August Donath. candidate for the repub-
/ lican commissionership. was presented to
| the President this morning by Representa-
| tive Charles a. Russell of Connecticut. and
| had short talk with him on District af-
fairs. Mr.. Donath stated to a Star reporter
| that Senator Wellington would see the
President in mis- behalf Monday. and that
| Senator Quay would be to him in his
, behalf next Wednesday. 1t seems gener-
ally understood that the nominations will
| be sent in next week. and that the friends
of Nessrs. Chaplin Brown and John W.
Ross were confident today. that these gen.
tlemen would be named.
oAlt -In ftvo1
attorney for the District, and now a candi-
| date for the republican commissionership.
appeared shortly after noon and had a
brief interview with the President.
May Go Outside.
A citizen who has been watching the stu
alton with some interest remarked to a
Star reporter today that it would not be
surprising If President Mckinley were to
relieve himself from the perplexities by
selecting some man whose name has not
been urged in connection with the place.
| Ii is said that the President is pursuing an
independent investigation into the subject.
Two weeks ago. or thereabouts, he sug-
gested to very prominent citizen that he
should take the position of District Com
missioner, but the honor was declined be
cause of the heavy business obligations
resting upon the gentleman. Gossip in
usually well-informed circles also has 1t
thai the resident would be very much
pleased if Mr.. John w. Foster. ex-minister
to China and ex-Secretary of State, would
consent TO ser"e as Commissioner, but II is
said the condition of Mr.. Fosters health
pre- ents him from acquiescing in the sug-
gestion. These facts are considered as in
dicating that the President is inclined to go
outside the list of names presented to him.
Among those said to have been suggested
TO the President as one who would make a
good Commissioner is Mr.. Thomas W.
Smith.
The Ccmmissionership Question.
Mr.. Jas. L. Norris called at the White
House shortly after o'clock today, but
had to wait some time to see the President.
Mr. Norris is understood to have called in
the interest of the reappointment of Com
missioner Ross.
j. w. Poe, president of the National Re
publican Protective Association, and w. G.
Paine, president of the l.. NJ. Saunders and
w F. Thomas Campaign Club. submitted
| Endorsements of Col l.. NJ. Saunders for
| the republican Commissioner of the Dis
trict.