Evening star., 1902-07-30
Informal Discussion of the
4 0ommissionership.
PRO VISIONS OF LAW
NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE sUG-
GRsTED FOR APPOINTMENT.
President Not Likely to Immediately
Consider the Matter-No Ap-
plications Filed.

Lie question OF tNe appointment Oh
successor to Commissioner Ross on the Dis
trlct board has been a matter of only in
formal discussion so far. The President,
OF course, will not give any attention to
the matter until after several days have
elapsed because of the proprieties of the oc-
casion. There is pressing need, however.
for Commissioner, and 1t Is believed a
general effort will be made to have the
President select man during the coming
week. At present all the District contracts
are held up for the want of the unanimous
signatures of the members of the District
board, and no applications for building pro-
Jections can be recommended or issued by
the War Department for the same reason.
Because Of the strict provisions of the
law and the lack Of substitute for either
OF the civilian Commissioners, District mat
ters to q great extent are at standstill.
Ihe Commissioners have many times
aksed Congress to create the Office of sec
retary of the District, the incumbent to
nave authority to act in the place of either
OF the TWO civilian Commissioners. They
1oresaW such an emergency as has exist
ed during the past Illness of Commissioner
Ross and desired to provide for it. The
OIL creating the office was favorably re-
ported upon at the last session of Con-
gress by the Senate District committee,
but failed of action in the House. The
commissioners will again urge the matter
next winter
Names Brought Forward.
While, as stated. the talk of a successor
to Commissioner Ross has been but in
formal, 1t Is probable, nevertheless, that
the man who will succeed to the office has
been mentioned among the names brought
forward In this manner. Naturally no ap-
pl1cations have been made and no active
steps have been taken in the matter in
any direction. 1t is probable the President
will write for the views of number Of
representative men of the District, ire
spective of party, as to the opinion of the
residents of Washington in respect to the
several proposed candidates. AS Mr.. Ross
was the democratic member of the board
1t Is generally conceded his successor will
De OF the same political faith it being an
unWritten law that there shall be one re-
publican and one democrat among the
COMMISSIONERS. 1t is provided by law
that the civilian Commissioners shall have
resided In the District of Columbia for at
least threes years. claiming residence no
where, else Tor that period.
The concepsus of opinion Is divided among
the chances of Mr.. William V. Cox, Mr.
Henry E. Davis and Mr.. Henry L. West.
The mention of these names is purely gos-
OF conviction behind the general manner
In which they are discussed.
MT. Eox Is the president Of the Second
national Bank, having succeeded to that
position upon the death of the late Mat
thew g, Emery. who was his father-in-law.
Mr.. Cox was formerly chief clerk Of the
Snithsonian- Institution. He has always
been a very prominent figure in District
anairs and his appointment, 1t Is con-
ceded, would be most acceptable and pleas
Ing toTthe neopie. Mr. Cox has many in
huential friends who are anxious to see
him on the board Of Commissioners
Mr.. Henry E. Davis is prominent among
the practitioners at the bar of the District,
and was formerly District attorney He
Is we'll known in democratic circles and
has constantly been talked of as Commits
sionership timber Mr. Davis is also widely
popular and will undoubtedly be urged
from many quarters for the place.
MIR. Henry L. West is a well-known news
paper man, and three years ago was among
those discussed as successor to Commits
sioner Ross In case the latter should de-
eide to retire. Mr.. Ross did not retire
however, and so the democratic candidates
all dropped out of the race. Mr.. West has
long resided In the District. His wife is
at present a member of the board of school
trustees. He stands close to a number of
influential men in national affairs and his
name will unquestionably be presented to
the President with strong Endorsements.
Others as Possibilities.
In addition to these three men there are
a number of other possible candidates more
or less discussed. At first the name of Mr..
James L. Norris, member of the demo-
cratic national committee and probably the
best known of the active democrats of the
District was generally mentioned in con-
nection with the vacant Commissionership
Mr.. Norris, however soon announced that
he was not a candidate and could not ac-
cept the Office If it should be rendered to
him.
Among those who are termed "out-and-
OUT democrats there is talk of the can
didacy Of MIR. Robert N Harper president
Of the Virginia democratic association Mr.
Harper will have a strong political back
ing. His friends demand the appointment
of what they call "straightout democrat"
and say he is the man. Mr. HARPER has
long lived and conducted his business in the
District, although he is said to retain a yot-
ing residence in Virginia, as his presidency
Of the democratic association of that state
Mr.. Louis P. Shoemaker Mr. Maurice |
Smith, Mr.. Robert I. Fleming, Mr. Dominic
I. Murphy. Mr Robert Christy. Mr.. Cotter
Bryan, and E. A. Newman, another 16-to71 |
advocate, are all mentioned in connection
with the vacancy
Claims of the West End.
The residents of Georgetown are yery |
much interested in the appointment of a |
Commissioner to fill the place made vacant |
by the death of Commissioner John w. |
Ross. They say that when that section be- |
came consolidated with Washington many |
years ago It was agreed that the portion |
of the District Of Columbia west of Rock
creek should have representative in the
board9ef Commissioners of the District of
Columbia. This understanding. they as
sert, was adhered to in the earlier appoint
mentsito the board, but Of late the agree
ment has been ignored
The citizens Of the West End say they
think The agreement should now be car
death of Mr. Ross filled by the appointment
Of resident of that portion Of the Dis
trict. It Is intimated that number of
prominent fitlzens of the West End will
lay the matter before President Roosevelt
withina1a few days.