The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-25
OTIS is OUT FOR 1T.
Friends Believe He
Will Be Appointed
Tax Commissioner.
OTHERS WHO WANT THE OFFICE.
The Vacancy May Be Filled
By Governor Wolcott
Next Week.
OTHERS WHO WANT THE OFFICE.


date for the position of state tax com
missioner. left vacant by the death Of
Charles Endicott.
Mr.. Otis is thoroughly conversant
with the duties of the office, and would,
in the estimation of his friends, be the
right man in the right place.
Here is what Mr.. Otis has to say in
connection with the matter.
81 will say frankly that would like
the office. The appointment would
come in the way of promotion and nat
Nrally should like to advance. I feel
grateful to all who have expressed a
wish that might receive the appoint
Snent, but / do not wish to stand in
ahe way of any one in the tax COM
miSsioner's office, who has been con-
nected with the department longer
than l, if the governor sees fit to ap-
point them.
81 have known Mr.. Endicott for IL
or Is years, and since my appointment
to the office of deputy commissioner,
have been intimately associated with
him. 1 was deeply shocked by his death
in my estimation, Mr.. Endicott was one
of the best informed men in his line in
the country. l am not aware of any
contest. If there is one, I have no
knowledge Of it's existence. So far as
am concerned I am merely drifting. If
my friends see fit to give me special
mention for the Office, that will be the
extent of my labor. I shall not circu-
late petition"
''Gov. Wolcott has decided upon ad-
vice of the attorney generals office,
that he has no authority to appoint a
tax commissioner pro TEN, and for that
4I.H !. .tf1s-sl h.
made an appointment at the next meet
ing of his council, which takes place
next week."
Friends Of Mr.. Otis evidently take it
FOR granted that he will receive the ap-
pointment. The reporter asked If there
were any possible candidates for the
deputy position in case of his promo
tion. THAT is going ahead pretty fast
and taking considerable for granted"
said Mr.. Otis. But remarkable as it
may seem, have the applications of
two men in my pocket at the present
time"
Mr.. Otis was chairman of the Wor-
cester board of assessors for IL years
and took UP the duties of deputy tax
commissioner January 1 of this YEA :.
He has worked in perfect accord with
his superior, in fact their views on the
question of taxation were Identical,
each believing in and striving to at
tain equalization of taxation Mr..
Otis was appointed from a list of 40
or 50 applicants for the position, and
has acquitted himself in a manner
satisfactory to his superior since that
time,
Among other candidates who have
been mentioned for the office is Senator
Charles G. Washburn of this city, but
Senator Washburn's candidacy is hard
1y plausible. He was quoted yesterday
as stating that such an idea is ridicu-
aous.
A man whose name it seems strange
to hear mentioned in this connection, is
that of Hon. E. P. Shaw. Mr.. Shaw's
tenn as state treasurer expires this fall
and he might easily step into the tax
and corporation commissioners Office.
But he Is already a man of fortune,
and the office as it exists is largely a
clerical one. Yet there is precedent for
such appointment, for Mr.. Endicott
was state treasurer before he became
commissioner.
Aside from the men mentioned the
names of several others have been pro-
jected by those especially interested in
matters pertaining to taxation. Among
the number are ex-senator Burns of
Aver, ex-senator Morse of Tisbury,
Major Winn of Maiden, Representative
Dean Of Wakefield, j. r. Reed, former
commissioner of foreign mortgage cor
porations, H. G. Otis of Worcester H.
B. Nottage, f. NJ. Mcpherson, f. Bos-
ton and Frank Drew, chairman of the
Boston board Of assessors.
The duties of the Office and the quail
f1cations desirable are such, however
that few of the ambitious ones are
likely to find favor with the governor,
and his excellency will not be troubled
with a real embarrassment of riches. A
man who once filled the office has re-
marked since Mr. Endicott's death that
the governor is apt to find as much
difficulty in filling the place as he is to
find capable men for the bench. The
men best fitted by legal training, judi
cial temperament and unquestioned in
tegrity to hold the combined office of
tax commissioner and commissioner of
corporations cannot as a rule afford to
take an office that pays only $500.
The Massachusetts, Anti-Double Tax
alton League Is watching the case with
immense interest but it is stated Off
cially that the league has no candidate
of its own, and will not endorse any
candidate.
There is a phase of the commission
er's duties wherein the widest latitude
prevails, and which makes the office
so important that the selection of a
man more than ordinarily honest is
essential.
From this standpoint alone, aside
from his knowledge of the duties of the
office, friends of Mr.. Otis claim he is
admirably fitted for the office, and they
will do all in their power to secure his
appointment.