Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-01
Al ExANDRIA AFFAIRS
Collector of Revenue Takes
Oath of Office.
SUCCEEDS PARK AGNEW
FIRE TODAY IN ROW OF SMALL
EATING HOUSES.
The Damage Amounts to Several Hun
dred Dollars-General and Per-
sonal News.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Cores pondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, May 1, 1905.
Mr.. Lewis Preston Summers of Abing-
don, Va, was this morning sworn in as
collector of internal revenue for the sixth
district Of Virginia. The oath was ad-
ministered at O'Clock by Mr.. r. p. w.
Garnett, clerk of the United States court.
in the Office Of the revenue collector in
the post Office building Mr.. Park Agnew
of this city, the retiring official. and a
few others were present at the time Mr..
Summers at once entered upon the dis
charge of his duties. To reporter for
The Star Mr. Summers stated that there
would be no change in the headquarters
of the office in the immediate future. He
said he had made no mention of the mat
ter to the department officials in WASH
ington. Concerning what might be done
later, he sal. he was not prepared to
make any statement. In the matter of
appointments in the clerical force and
other employees under his supervision the
new collector stated that he would be
slow in making any changes. Considera-
ton for the welfare of the service, he
said@ would be carefully weighed before
deciding upon new appointments.
Immediately after the oath was admin
istered Mr. Summers received the con-
CALCULATIONS and well wishes of his prede
cessor Mr.. Agnew, and the others pres
-
ant manners, energetic bearing and en-
gaging personality - qualities which
helped him, chairman of the republican
congressional committee for the ninth
Virginia district, to win a notable victory
last fall in the only district in the state
which was carried for the republican
ticket.
Personal Sketch.
Mr.. Summers is the son of Col. John c.
Summers, who commanded the 9th Vir-
and his mother was Miss Mamie Preston
of Washington county. Mr.. Summers was
born in Washington county In 1868. After
obtaining his early education at the
Wytheville Male Academy, he took an
academic course at the University or Vir-
ginia. Later he graduated in law at the
University of Virginia, making a spe-
cialty of common statute law Subse-
quently he graduated in civil law at Iu-
lane University, New Orleans. Returning
to Abingdon, he began the practlce OF MS
profession.
At the age of twenty-one he was appoint
ed by President Harrison postmaster at
Abingdon. In 1903 he was elected common
wealth attorney of Washington county, de-
feating his democratic opponent by ma
jority of $50. AS chairman of the repub-
lican congressional committee in the nlntn
district he waged an aggressive campaign
for President Roosevelt and Col. Slemp last
fall His labors were crowned with Drill
liant success, the republican ticket being
elected by majority OF 4,SSt. III 1oof HS
was elected a member of the republican
state executive committee. At the Norfolk
convention in the same year he was named
as elector-at-large for the state, but de-
clined the nomination.
Mr. Summers is something of historian.
having written an excellent sketch of SOUTH
western Virginia, which was published In
1903 It is a book of about 1000 pages and
has been given a fattering reception by the
public. In 1897 Mr.. Summers married Miss
Annie Katharine Barbee. They have three
children.
Mr.. Park Agnew, whose resignation took
effect this morning. has been collector OF
internal revenue for the sixth district for
eight years. The affairs of the office. which
he turned over to Mr.. Summers today, have
been kept in such fine shape that he has re-
ceived repeated concentrations from the
officials of the department In Washington.
During the eight years of his term the Of
flee enjoyed the highest rating with the de-
partment. Mr.. Agnew will now devote his
attentions to his private business interests
which are extensive both in this city and in
Washington.