Evening star., 1901-12-31
District Deprivation Under Operations
of the New Code.
TERM EXPIRES AT l2UCLOCK TONIGHT
President Unable to Appoint Until
Congress Reassembles.
THE DEP UTY TO SERVE

Dr. ]. Ramsay Nevitt. District coroner
ment after u o'clock tonight, according to
the ruling of the District legal authorities
This state of affairs is brought about by
the operations of the District code, which
goes into effect tomorrow
The District Commissioners were recently
apprised of the condition of affairs which
would exist in the coroner's office in case
the proposed amendments to the code were
not passed before Congress adjourned for
the Christmas holidays. The amendments
were not passed, and the result is that af-
ter tonight the District will be without
coroner until Congress convenes and reme-
dial action can be taken. The situation is
not so bad from public standpoint, how
ever, as at first appears, for on account Of
the construction of the code the deputy
coroner is provided for, and during the
temporary retirement of his chief, DIR. Lar
kin w. Glazebrook, the deputy coroner
will act
The new code as adopted provides for the
appointment of the coroner by the Presi-
dent of the United States Heretofore the
officer has been appointed by the Commits
sioners. The law giving the Commissioners
that authority is repealed, along with a
great many others, by clause of the code
w nen congress assembled the 1OHlnlSSlOn-
ers recommended that the appointive power
in regard to the coroner be transferred
back to them. An amendment providing
for the transfer was favorably reported in
the Senate by the District of Columbia
committee, which had the matter in charge
The amendment was not acted upon, how
ever. before the recess was taken.
The President Informed.
With the consent of the other members
of the District board, Commissioner Mac
farland presented the matter to President
Roosevelt. Mr.. Macfarland Informed the
President Of the fact that under the code
as it stands the appointment of a coroner
for the District was in the hands OF the
chief executive. He stated that it was the
desire of the Commissioners that Dr. New
lit, the incumbent, should be reappointed.
Mr.. Roosevelt assured the Commissioner
that he would be glad to meet the wishes
of the District board in the matter
1t was subsequently learned, however,
nomination to the Senate during the recess
annually taken by both houses of Congress
at Christmas time. The Commissioners had
hoped that recess appointment by the
President might bridge over the difficulty.
With the discovery of the fact that no pre-
cedent could be found for an appointment
which requires confirmation by the Senate
at this time, it was decided to pursue the
have to await nomination by the President
until Congress reconvenes.
Provisions of the Code.
The code provided for change in the ap-
pointing power only in regard to the coro-
ner. 1t provided that there should continue
to be deputy coroner to be appointed by
the Commissioners. 1t was this last pro-
vision of the code which has saved the Dis
trict from being absolutely left without Il
coroner's services. The Commissioners will
reappoint Dr. Glazebrook as deputy coro-
ner and, as stated, he will act as coroner
until DR.. hewitt shall be appointed and con-
firmed.
The Commissioners will continue of
course to urge that the coroner shall be
appointed by them. 1t is said the amend
ment providing for such an arrangement
will not be opposed. When the amendment
is adopted DR.. hewitt will probably have to
be again appointed to his office-by the