The times., 1899-09-27
Mr.. Davis RESIGNATION
He Will Retire From the District
Attorneys Office Soon.
General Thomas III. Anderson, 1t Is
Said, VIII Succeed Him-Has Made
Faithful and Efficient ofHciaI--
VIII Enter Private Practice-sey-
erai Changes In the Office Probable

United States Attorney for the District
Henry E. Davis yesterday for the first time
admitted that he has rendered his resig-
nation from the Office to President McKin-
ley, to take effect the 1st of October.
Ever since it has been generally accepted
as true that the President has decided to
nominate Gen. Thomas H. Anderson for
the Office of United States Attorney for the
District, with the understanding that he
would enter upon the discharge Of the du-
ties of the office on October 1, there has
been more or less speculation about Mr.
Davis resignation, but nothing positive
was known until yesterday, when he stat
ed that he had informed Mr. Mckinley
during the early part Of the present month
that he would sever his connection with the
Office on the first of next month 1t was
learned, however, that the step taken by
Mr.. Davis was decided upon last April,
when he became aware of the fact that
the President desired to appoint General
Anderson as United States Attorney for
the District. Mr.. Davis was informed of
this by the President, and it was then ar
ranged that he should resign his Office be-
fore the opening of the October term of
the Supreme Court of the District, in or
der that his successor should have an op-
portunity to familiarize himself with the
current business of the Office
When asked about the matter, Mr.. Davis
stated that he had sent his resignation
to the President, to take effect next Sat.
ttrff- hut cnlt ,,xsI ~,
know" said he, how the fact became pub
lie. do know that it did not become pub
lie through me. | cannot discuss the ru-
mors concerning the cause of my retire.
ment." In a quiet way it was rumored
last spring that Mr.. Davis intended to
tender his resignation to the President, but
the report never took definite shape. and So
after going the rounds for few days. it
was dropped and not revived until week
Or two ago.
From the turn things have taken ii will
be seen that there is no connection be-
tween the resignation and the appoint
ment of General Anderson as his success
sor, and the nomination of a successor to
Justice Cele on the bench Of the Supreme
Court of the District. 1t having been de-
cided last spring, several months before
Justice Cox resigned, that General Ander-
son was slated for the District attorney
ship Is also an evidence that he was not
considered by the President as candidate
for the vacant justiceship. notwithstanding
the fact that several CT his friends urged
| his appointment. Mr.. Davis was :romi-
mated for the Office OF United States At
torney for the District of Columbia by
President Cleveland shortly before the
latter's term of office expired. The nomi-
nation was. however, not confirmed by the
Senate before its adjournment in March,
1897. The matter was then referred 20 the
Supreme Court of the United States,
which appointed Mr.. Davis to the office.
Since then his nomination has again been
before the Senate for confirmation.
During his term as District Attorney Mr.
Davis has made a host of warm friends,
who admire him not only for the able
manner in which he has conducted the
affairs of the office, but also because of his
genial,i manner and his desire, TO assist
where he is able when. it does not interfere
with the performance. of his duty. He is
also recognized By the members OF fhe
local bar as one Of the ablest practitioners
in the District, being not only highly edu-
catedin the law, but also an accomplished
orator.
For some time past Mr.. Davis has quiet
ly been preparing for his severance from
the Office. All his assistants have been
too, and when asked about the condition
of affairs yesterday he stated that every
case under consideration was up to date
and there would be no trouble whatever
for his successor to take hold.
Mr.. Davis will upon the expiration of his
term resume his private practice in connec-
ton with Mr.. Charles Cowles Tucker, who
has been associated in business with him
for some years.
In connection with the assuming charge
of the Office by General Anderson next
Monday 1t is said there will be at least
two changes made, whereby two of the as
siseants to the District Attorney will be
displaced and their positions filed by
friends of the new attorney. AS rumor has
it, the lucky men who will be offered places
in the District Attorneys Office are Tracy
L. Jeffords, who was assistant District At
terney during Arthur A. Birney's incum-
bency of the Office, and Thomas c. Taylor,
| a prominent criminal lawyer of the Dis
trict bar.