Evening star., 1902-08-04
Tells No One Who Will Be
Appointed Commissioner.
GOING OVER PAPERS
OVERWHELMED WITH INDORSE-
MENTs OF ASPIRANTs.
Belief That Choice Will Be Made
Within Ten Days-The Lead
ing Candidates.

OYSTER BAY, August 4. - President
Roosevelt is being overwhelmed with in
dorsements of candidates for the vacancy
on the board of Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia Thus far he has inti-
mated to no one who he may appoint. He
is going over all the papers in the case his
desire being to select man whose ap-
pointment will command the general ap-
proyal of the residents Of Washington.
The appointment probably will be made
within the next ten days.
From private advices received from Oys-
ter Bay the impression has been created
here that the President will not name
Commissioner to succeed the late John w.
Ross until the latter part nf this week. 1t
had been expected UP to this time that the
announcement might be made today or to-
morrow, but it is now understood the
President has made appointments which
bear upon the vacant con1missionership up
to and including next Thursday. Judging
from this apparently authoritative state
ment. it is evident Mr., Roosevelt has de-
termined not to act in haste, 1t is known
that he has a high estimate of the Dis
trict commissionerships, placing it on the
same plane as did President Mckinley,
President Cleveland, and his other prede-
cessors in the executive office. With this
knowledge of the Presidents views upon
the subject in mind, the represent ative
citizens of the District are resting easy in
the belief that the appointment, when
made, will be a satisfactory one; an ap-
pontment founded upon sound Judgment
and with the best interests of the District
at heart.
The District commissionersfip is not
merely city office in the ordinary sense
but rather has distinct, standing with the
gubernatorial office in the states for the
Commissioner not alone has hand in the
rule over the cities of Washington and
Georgetown, for there are a dozen or more
townships in the outlying territory of the
District Of Columbia which in the states
would be entitled to mayor and city coun-
Gil individually. The last census returns
1t IS interesting to note - this connection
show that $4,000 people of the District live
outside the limits Of Washington and
Georgetown. '"O
The many years President Roosevelt has
resided in Washington in his yarous nub
nc capacities eminently fit him to make
the appointment with; which he is now deal
ing. he Knows and appreciates the dignity
or the office he must select A man to ali
ne mas personal acquaintanceship with
Dlstrict affairs as a whole While a man
essentially democrat will be chosen nm
questlonaoly, the political influence. 1t ts
oeiie'eu' VIII not nave the greatest weight.
Views Of the Situation.
despite the strenuous efforts being mt
forth by nearly dozen active candidates q
Is becoming to be generally believed that the
president will chose from the quartet COM
posed Of Messrs. William v. Cox. Henry
l.. West, James L. Norris and Thomas r
ferguson, or else win appoint a man who
mas not peen mentioned SO far in connec-
non with the office The four men mem
tloned above have the strongest kind of in
dorsements, Doth locally and nationally and
are personally known to the President
Ihey nave been the foremost In the race
since the vacancy on the District board oc-
mos fcfo tlxr
talked about by those who have discussed
the commissionershp. A great many names
nave been used in connection with the va
cancy for which, 1t is said, there has been
apsolutely no warrant, either by the cir
cumstances or the wishes Of the gentlemen
affected.
While number Of delegations may call
upon the president in behalf of other can
oida1es 1t Is known that he has been con-
stdering for some days the names of the
TOUR men mentioned above. 1t has not
been the presidential policy In thS past to
appoint 10 the commissionership an active
partisan or either political faith. 1t is be-
heved this policy will be followed in the
present instance. and If such be the case
humber OF those who have been working
energetlcally for the appointment will be
tfaensipie. Inc President is understood to
1avor man who has the confidence Of the
District people as a whole, irrespective of
their party feelings
Rumors in Circulation.
With regard to the likelihood of the Pres
ldent going outside of the candidates al
ready announced, an interesting rumor has
been In circulation telling of the possibility
OF the selection of Mr.. Francis q. Leupp for
the commissionership. Mr.. Leupp is not an
applicant for the place in any sense of the
Word, out ne is a warm personal friend of
the president, and it is said he could have
hau place on the civil service commission
hn r
the Washington CORRESPONDENT of the New
aork EVenlng Post, and has resided here
LOT niteen years or more making his home
az 1913 10Th street. 1t is not known whether
Ms. Leupp would feel justified in taking the
once at TINS time. He is not allowing any
Q! ms friends to interest themselves in
ms Dehalf, and if he should be appointed it
"euld be OF the Presidents own initiative.
eueh an appointment is looked for in
sonls quarters, but the more conservative
people .9I seem to think the new Commissioner
VIII pc one or the strongly indorsed candi-
dates openly in the race.
The friends of Messrs Cotter T. Bride
Creed M. Fulton, s. s. Yoder and w. NICK
layton who are actively at work, are not
Wliilng to admit that the choice lies be-
ssaasl sMesn cne quartet above mentioned and out
the race for keeps and will be heard from
D Dneh tne wires flash the. newstfrom Oyster
Pay. A big political pub wiliibe made for
NJ, nr. 6rloe' who stands an the a6 to plat
Messrs. John B. Larner; A. A. Wilson, E.
!,y %. nay and Dominic l. Murphy are con-
tHluaiiy talked of in cnnectlDn with the
commissionershfp
Mr. Shoemaker Net in the Race.
Mr.. Louis P. shoemaker, VINO has been
lneheloned for several Days past as prob
aoie candidate is not In the race. He ex-
pialns his position in the following state
ment:
,r;a NY name has recently been advanced by
hnenS aienas .or the lamentable vacancy on our
i,;al Soalo OF Commissioners entertain very
nlgn appreciation OF this evidence of re-
our people, ~
nave, however. told every friend who
mas approached me upon this subject that
,ny SITUATION was such ssto cause me to
zee fesi Lna1 ought not enter into contest
Tor the position.
am deeply interested an the general
WeiIare or Washington. fully realize the
seIIouS ana helpless situation In. which our
people are involved, feel that 1t is caused
70 very great extent by an ill-advised
increase OF taxation and In violation of
where.
L re9xrf3 n v.r>-...A critical y,orJnd