Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04
The Retiring Member.

tain Mr.. Petty In some other position under
the District government.
The Retiring Member.
Mr.. Samuel T. O.. Morsell who will retire
from the permanent board of assessors the
lsst of next June, was born in Prince
Georges county. Nd, May 3, 1873. and Is
one Of the oldest men in the District serv-
ice Mr.. Morsel came to the District more
than nifty years ago. and for about forty
years was prominent as an architect anu
builder. He drew the plans and superin-
:, nded the construction of the main build
ing Of st. Elzabeth's Hospital for the In
Ssr-: he drew the plans and superintended
th- construction of the basement of the
I'nsr Office Department building in this city.
and superintendent the construction of the
following government buildings in various
parts of the country: The customs house at
Alexandria. Va. the Galveston Tex. Gus
toms house; the customs house and post
office building at Pttsburg. and many
other large public buildings In various
parts of the United States.
Mr. Morsell first entered the District serv-
Ice about ten years ago, when President
Harrison appointed him on the board OF
revision of assessments for the District
His appointment. II Is stated. was made
without Mr.. Morselrs knowledge or seeking,
and was due to the earnest solicitation or
many prominent citizens of the District.
He was appointed on the permanent board
Of assessors for the District August H.
1894 and was made chairman of the newly
created excise board. which position he mas
held until within the past few weeks.
Judge" Morsell, as he is popularity known
at the District building. Is regarded as one
OF the most courteous and efficient ofhcials
I'm the District service, and he has many
friends both in the District government
and among prominent citizens of the city.
His Successor.
Samuel T. Kalbfus, who will succeed
,I.,.H Ill t1, NAVY mo ~
OF assessors is native of Washington and
was educated in the city public schools
He took a course in the Georgetown Uni
versity Law School, from which he gradu-
ated. After completing his course OF law
Mr. Kalbfus was admitted to the bar of
the District of Columbia, but has never
practiced his profession
Seventeen years ago he entered the Dis
trict service as clerk in the assessors office
In July, 1902, he was appointed first assist
ant assessor. Mr. Kalbfus' promotion is
regarded as a just reward for faithful and
efficient services in the office OF the asses
sor.
Mr.. T. Fred Alvey Is a son Of Chief
Justice Alvey of the District Court of APP
peals and he was born in Hagerstown. Md,
about thirty-one years ago. In 1888 MIR.
Alvey was appointed to the position OF sec
rotary to District Commissioner TrueSdell
and later served successfully in the Office
OF the auditor and the executive Office OF
the District and as secretary to Major Syl-
vester of the police department. In 1879
Mr. Alvey left the District service and be-
came treasurer of the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company. in which posi-
ton he served until March, 1901. when he
again entered the District service. this time
rs clerk in the Office of the assessor. He
has been promoted several times within the
past few years on account of his ability.
and for more than year past has been
the second assistant assessor.
MI. Petty's Record.
Mr. James T. Petty is a native of Fir-
ginia. He was born In 1886, in Falmouth.
Stafford county, where his parents resided
70 many years. He came to the District
when still a young man and received his
early education here. At the outbreak of
home in Virginia and enlisted in the lith
Virginia Infantry Of the confederate army.
He fought throughout the conflict. ana was
wounded at the battle OF Five Forks. AT
the close of the war Mr.. Petty returned
to Washington and engaged In the shoe
business.
He became connected with the District
government in 1870. when he was appointed
a clerk in the office of the District con-
troller. under the administration of Mayor
Matthew G. Emery. He served in that po-
sition until the form of territorial govern
ment was adopted continuing under that
form of government In the same capacity,
until the board of temporary commissioners
was appointed. when he was made book
keeper in the office of the auditor for the
District the Office of controller being abol-
ished.
May L. 1855 Mr.. Petty succeeded Isaac
Ticheuor as auditor for the District of CO.
lumbia and served in that capacity until
August L. 1903, when after the discovery
Of shortage in the aud tors office. as the
result of the alleged defalcati ton of James
NJ. \. Watson, the Comm 50 oners request
ed Mr. Petty's resignation from that posi-
tion. As has been stated. no question was
raised by the District authorities rel tive
10 Mr.. Pettys personal or public honesty
and integrity, but they deemed a change
necessary in the position of auditor i'll view
of the circumstances.
As second assistant assessor. Mr.. Petty
will have charge of the entire arrears
branch of the assessors office, handling
the water main ass ssments. special as
sessments, and questions arising in conuec-
tion with those features of the assessors