The evening times., 1897-04-15

There is a surprising TumOr afloat,
which was started probably by the ap-
pOintments yesterday Of two civilian Com
missioneIs Of the District, that an effort
is to be made shortly to effect change in
the office Of engineer Commissioner, and,
despite the fact that the assignment Of
Capt. Black TO the position was Of such
recent date, he is likely to be superseded
by the detail Of another officer by the
present Administration.
This does not convey any reflection what
ever upon the present incumbent Of the
office, il Is said. but the criticism advanced
is altogether upon the manner OF his Sc
lection 10 the post, in which. OF course,
he had no participation.
1t is recalled that when Capt. Black was
detailed from the War Depa1tme the
action was practically a compromise
There was contention among certain gen
tlemen as to the selection. Secretary
Sherman, then Senator, was understood
to favor the appointment of Major Si-
monds, and the chief Of engineers was
equally soliCitOus for the detail Of Major
Rossele, foImeT engineer Commissioner,
and the story is that there were sundry
warm discussions Of the matter.
Finally Secretary Lamont made the de-
tail OF Capt. Black, and, although it was
rumOred for several days prior that this
solution of the problem would be reached,
the selection, il seems, was nevertheless
a diSagreeable surprise, since, as IL is al
legged, the Secretary Of War consulted no
body, not even President Cleveland, as to
the propriety of the order, nor did ne
consult the views of any of those in au-
thority in the engineer branch of the ser
vice.
This action, it is conceded, is not with
out authority, but it is criticised as most
arbitrary, in view Of the fact that the
Secretary then had but a few DAYS more
Of official life, while his SUbOrdinates and
others interested would still be in office
during the after administration OF af-
fairs
1t is hinted that Secretary Sherman ia
still desirOus of having his choice, and
that he will at the proper time suggest
his views 10 the Secretary OF War and the
President, with the request for a change.
Whether OF not this Will revive the details
of the former discussion is not known, but
it is presumed the Secretary will have no
trouble n placing his man.
IL is said 4 the War DepaItmentthat the
Secretary has the undisputed night to
make details without consulting the heads
OF bureaus. but that il is very seldom
exercised. The chief Of engineers would
be the official whose judgment would nat
urally be invited when changes were immi-
nent in his branch of the service, and unless
the Secretary of War had cause TO ignore
the courtesy, ne would, without doubt, be
called into consideration over the detail
of an officer to so desirable berth as
Engineer Commissioner OF the District
As previously stated, the charge is that
Secretary Lamont consulted nobody, and
those outside of the department who were
interested in the selection re said to have
taken umbrage, and are biding their time.
Commissioner Black has been in office
since March / He has shown himself to
be a very energetic officer, and in the
short time he has been in the discharge of
the duties has made great progress, it is
said, in mastering the details OF the de-
partn1eut routine.
Several Senators are understood to have
been lately making inquiry into the Cir.
cuInstanc ces attending the detail, and when
tits rememberedthatt the engineer Commits
sioner's official tenure like the details
of officers elsewhere is subject only To the
will OF the head of the department, and is
not dependent upon the sanction Of the
Senate, it is believed that a move for
change in the office is actually contem-
plated.