Evening star., 1897-03-26
EXCITEMENT is OVER
Calm Succeeds the Ebullit.ons Over the
District Oommissionerships.
Candidates and Their Friends Rest
ing After Energetic Pursuit of
All Sorts of influence.

The excitement that has prevailed in the
last fifteen or twenty days over the ques-
ton of the District commissionerships
seems to have completely died out, and in
its place there is a feeling that the Presi-
dent is going to take abundant time to
solve the problem confronting him, and
will do it in his own way when he takes
it UP. The candidates and their friends
are resting because if the truth must be
told, there is nothing left to be done in the
way of securing supporters of influence
who have access to the President, or sign
ers for petitions which may be presented
to him.
1t Is doubtful if Washington was ever
as thoroughly canvassed in oehalf of any
thing as 1t has been in behalf of the va
rious candidates for the commissionerships
Petitions have been as numerous here as
the apocryphal leaves in Vallanbrosa and
they have been presented 70 all sorts and
conditions of men for signature. An cx-
animation of these petitions would prob
ably discover the presence of the same
names Oh two or three different documents
filed in behalf of two or three different can
didates.
But the persons guilty of such duplication
would probably ask to be excused on ac-
count of having been unaware of the char
aSter of the paper they were signing, as so
rounds. Clcrgymen and college presidents.
bankers and business mer indeed. every
body who possesses the least sort of in
terest in Washington or the District. has
been Crawn in this way into the general
scramble for the offices and asked for their
aid in one way another.
Among the local people at the White
House today were Charles j. Bell chair
man of the inaugural committee; J. Har-
rison Dingman and Calvin Chase Mr..
Bell made an engagement to see the Presi-
dent again, not being able to talk with
him this morning because of the cabinet
meeting. Mr.. Dingman stated that he
was not a candidate for office. and had
simply called on personal matters. Mr..
Chase stated that he was filing some pa
pers ir the interest of a friend who wanted
an appointment 10 a minor position out
side cf the District Of Columbia.
A joint committee called upon the Presi-
dent yesterday afternoon. by appointment.
in behalf of c. V. Gates for recorder Of
deeds. The members of the committee
think that M Gates will be able to make
a strong showing for the place. Tie COM
nittee was composed of Maurice Rose1
berg, A. j. kaul, c. S. ticker of the Dis
trict Sound Money League; j. c. Chaney.
DR. Lee and Mr. Odell of the Mckinley ana
Hobart Campaign Club. and Attorney
Adraans of the Invncible Republican
Club. number Of business men who are
friends of Mir. Gates Will confer with the
President on this subject next week
DIR. W. A. Croffut, who has been prom
inently connected with the commissioner
ship fight. said to a Star reporter today:
MY name having been kindly mentioned
for Commissioner of the District of Column
bia. l desire TO say that / have not been,
in any sense a candidate for that office,
am not candidate, do not expect to
be a candidate, and do not Wish the ap-
pointment. My only nope is that the Presi-
dent may. for the first time IL quarter of
a century, appoint Commissioner who is
the choice of that part of the city east of
the Capitol