The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-01
MAJOR BIDDLB SWORN In.
The New Engineer Commissioner
Takes the Oath of Office.

Formal Reorganization Of the Board
FOIIOws-Mr- MaCgarIand AEain
Chosen PrcSidcut-RcyHrd for De
tcctiveS-PoIiCc Gases Disposed of.
Major John Eiddle. The new Engineer
Commissioner OF the District. was sworn
in shortly after O'Clock this morning and
entered Immediately upon the discharge
of his duties. The oath was administered
by DIT William TiudalI. secretary 20 the
Board OF Commissioners, who is "A notary
public. Major Biddle Immediately turned
his attention TO his morning mail and
spent an hoCr with his secretary, Moncure
Burk. going over the business Of the day
After that the new Commissioner was
accessible to visitors and more than a
hundred citizens of the District called
10 pay their respects. Major Biddlvs first
official act was the approval of several
police appointments which were awaiting
his signature.
At 10 o'clock there was "a called meet
ing Of the Board Of Commissioners. at
which Major BidOIo was formally TeCeiv-
ed by his colleague. The Secretary TO
the Board read the order OF the Secretary
OF War detailing Major BIddle as En-
Eineer Commissioner of the District Of
Columbia. The reorganization of the
Board followed. Commissioner Ross Of
fered motion that Commissioner Mac
farIand be chosen president which was
carried Commissioner MaCfaTlaud offer
ed a motion that his colleagues be auth
orized to act as president in his absence,
and the BOARD proceed to the considera-
ton Of current business
Major Biddle IS a member OF the En-
gineer Corps Of the United States Army
and has had distinguished service in that
capacity. lie was graduated from West
Point in June. ISL and was assigned 20
the Engineer Corps. For the next three
years he was engag ed in study in the En-
gineer School of Application at Wiuett's
Point y. Y. From June 1854. to November,
1887. he served as engineer officer in
charge Of the work Of the army i'm the
Dakotas. with headquarters at St. Paul,
MINI From the laSt-ndmed date to
March. 1891. Major BiidIe was assistant
instructor OF practical engineering at
West Point To June. 1853. he was en-
gagged as assistant engineer in river and
harbor work and to May. 1895. upon SINH
lar work on the Cumberland River.
At the opening OF the Span sh- American
war, Major Biddle became lieutenant col
ouel of volunteers and was assigned TO
duty as chief engineer of the Sixth Army
Corps acting chief engineer of the First
Division Of the First Army Corps on the
stan of Gen James Fl. Wilson. He served
through the campaign in Porto Rico. and
in O"tober, 1898. was made chief engineer
Of the First Army Corps on the staff Of
General Wilson, being assigned to duty
at Lexington. Ky, and Macon. Ga.
From January, 1893. TO September, Of
that year, he was engineer ia charge OF
the Department of Matanzas. Cuba. and
afterward OF Matanzas and Santa Clara
In September. 1893 Major BiddIe was or
oered TO the Philippines. and was there
chief engineer Of an army division on the
staff OF General Oris. and afterward on
that Of General Macarthur. He was re-
heved from duty in the Philippines in
May, 1901, and after a leave OF absence
was detailed for duty as Engineer Com
missioner Of the District Of Columbia
Major Biddle was a member Of the
Board OF naval and army officers an
pointed TO develop plans for The harh6r
a. %uam- He spent six weeks in the ISL
ana last year and several weeks in San
FRANCISCO working ont the plans and the
repcGL He was appointed a delegate 10
the international meeting Of army engi-
neers IN iSsS, which met AT The Hague
Major Biddle was unable to attend mis-
Alss1lhs on account OF the Spanish War.
John Howard Wilkens. Of 2Gs Ninth
Street northwest. has forwarded TO Po-
lice Headquarters the sum Of SO in rec
oguition Of the services Of Detective Ser
Seants Lacy and Brown in the arrest OF
Wellington Kicks charged with petit lar
ceny.
Major Sylvester. In forwarding a state
ment Of the matter to the Commissioners.
recommends that 20 per cent Of the
amount b. credited TO the Policemen
fund and that the men b. allowed to re-
tam the balance, and that il be equally
divided between them.
Commissioner Ross has approved and
sent to his associates the recommendation
OF Major Sylvester in the case Of II. T
Schmidt, special street railroad crossing
policeman. Schmidt was before the Trial
Board charged with neglect Of duty and
inetticiency. and was found guilty Of the
nrst charge.
MAJOR Sylvester's recommendation WIS
70 the effect that Schmidt be- fined four
Gays pay, and that he be warned 49,
repetition Of the offence il cetaEfi-Lad
VIII result in his removal from the force
similar action was taken I'm the case Of
> J. Brown, charged with the loss OF his
ponce badge. Major Sylvester recon-
hitHded that he fined s. and warned ina.
4IH aClon, recurring again. viii result
a. hdTsher measures on the part of thr
n arf