Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-13

many local corporations. He has also sery-
ed as president of the Gridiron Club.
Pohtlcally the new Commissioner has
been consistent democrat He has been
member OF the old Columbia Democratic
CLUB for many years. But his activity in
polltical reporting precluded any marked
service to his party either as public
speaker or campaign worker
Mr.. west has been married about twenty
years Mrs. West Is member of the
board OF education. and is recognized as one
OF that board They have three chill
dren. of whom the eldest, a daughter, has
just graduated from a local private school
and the second child, son, is now en-
woods Hole station in Massa chusetts
Their domestic life has been proverbialIy
happy. Mr.. and Mrs. West lived many
years In home they purchased on Capitol
new home, which they also own. in CO.
lumbia Heights. This latter dwelling is
now ililed with the rare autographs, prints
Of Washington in ante-bellum davs and
those other objects of quaint character and
beauty which man interested In many
subjects and given so many opportunities
10 indulge his tastes might be expected to
collect.
At the District Building.
The news of the appointment of Mr. West
as Commissioner was received at the Dis
trict building with general appreciation. Mr..
Macfarland, president Of the District board
said;
Mr.. West and 1 have been friends for
many years, and 1 shall be very glad to
welcome him from the private to the public
service Of the District. No one. appreciates
his ability or his attractive qualities more
than l, and it Is needless to say that he
mas the integrity and the public spirit char
acteristic of his predecessors in office He
Is District man from his youth I'D. knows
the Districts needs and shares the Dis
tricts desires. l feel sure that Mr. West
Will acquit himself admirably in a. yery
trying place.
Col Riddle, the Engineer Commissioner
said he, too would be glad to welcome Mr
West to the District board Col. Biddle had
never met Mr.. West until today but said
from all the nice things he had heard he
was sure the Commissioner would
make an excellent District officer
Mr.. Macfarland and Col. Biddle called on
their congratulations. Mr.. West stated
! that if the bonding arrangements could be
made in time he would come to the District
building Wednesday morning to he sworn
in. The bond required of a District Corn
missioner is $50 600
1t is probable that there will be no reas-
signment of the District departments until
next May when Mr. Macfarland's tern, a q
Commissioner will expire and a reorsaniza-
ton of the board had Mr.. West will prob
ably take the departments formerly super
vised by Mr.. Ross. All of these have been
administered for the past three months and
a half by Mr.. Macfarland in addition to his
own departments. The departments that
will come under Mr.. West by this arrange
ment are: The metropolitan police the
street cleaning department. the assessor,
the assistant assessors and the personal tax
department, the corporation counsel, the
auditors office, the bathing beach, the aims
house. the workhouse and the Washington
Asylum Hospital: the adjustment Of claims
| against the District, the office Of the col
| lector of taxes, the disbursing office, the
| regulation Of hacks and hack stands. the
| public library, all licenses, with the ex-
| ception of liquor, and the surgeons OF the
police and fire departments
The appointment OF the new Commission
er was welcome news to the engineer de-
partment. for a large number Of its con-
! tracts have been held up since July l. The
law requires that contract to be effective