Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-13

telephone was kept working overtime this
morning and much of his time between
calls was occupied in receiving callers. All
Of the messages, whether spoken at long or
short range, conveying to the Commissioner
expressions of goodwill on part of the
city's business and professional men, to-
gether with assurances of the general feel
ing, Of the community that his had been a
good administration and that this should be
his best guarantee of his reappointment.
Just three years ago today Commissioner
West first met his associate in office, Engi-
neer Commissioner John Biddle, and by a
strange coincidence Mr.. West was In Col
Biddle's Office humorously referring to this
fact when the importunate telephone call
from the newspaper men at the White
House brought to him the notice of the re-
appointment. Mr.. West was quoted In yes
terday's Star to the effect that, while he
did not purpose entering into active candi-
dacy to succeed himself. he would never
theless feel greatly complimented If his
record In office earned for him another
term; but the reappointment, following so
closely on the heels of the prediction In
The Star, came great surprise.
That the action of President Roosevelt
was welcome one was best evidenced by
the statements of the two other members
OF the Board of Commissioners.
Mr. Macfarland's Compliment
Commissioner MacfarIand said:
1T is very gratifying TO learn that the
President has reappointed Commissioner
West. II is a recognition of the excellent
service which Mr.. West has given the Dis
trict. and Is very agreeable to his assocl-
ates. While IL was to be expected that Mr..
West would be reappointed, it is very salts
factory to have it done now, and done
without controversy, Mr.. Vests ability TO
serve the District is just as much greater
% how I,.a
came into Office. so that he may expect
even greater success in the future than in
the past
Col. Biddle's Tribute.
As soon as he heard of the reappointment
Commissioner BiddIe declared:
Z am exceedingly pleased with the re
appointment of Mr.. West. but the action CT
the President was no surprise as his serv-
ices to the District have been such as to
make his selection much desired, both by
the community and by his colleagues on the
board. Personally. his reappointment is
very agreeable to me-.
Commissioner Henry Litchield West was
born August 70, 1883, on Staten Island, n.
Y. and he was brought TO Washington four
years later. when his father. the late Rob-
ert A. West, came TO the capital TO accept
an editorial position on Forney's Chronicle,
then the leading paper of the city. In New
York, before coming to Washington, the
New York Commercial Advertiser.
The present Commissioner. as a boy, was
educated at what was then known as So
per's Academy. in Georgetown. AT the age
OF thirteen he entered the office of the
Georgetown Courier and as printer 8
devil at 50 a week, he made fires, swept
noors; washed the rollers. was introduced
to printers lice" and, toward the end of
this phase of MS training in the newspaper
game he occasionally gathered news items
Later he became Georgetown reporter for
the Washington Union. and when that pa
per was merged with the Washington Post
he passed through the shake-up unscathed
With the exception of one period of two
years. until he was appointed Commissioner
three years ago. Mr.. West was continu-
ously connected with the stan of the Post
in ali positions from reporter to managing
editor,
1t was by his writings political SUBJ
feets, however that the newly feappointed
Commissioner. by his grasp of subjects of
national Importance, gained his greatest
fame. He reported fourteen national po-
iitical conventions. and his picturesque sto-
res of political meetings and the proceed
ings of Congress were famous. AS Comms
stoner of the District Mr.. West has made
an enviable record and scores of prominent
citizers were among those who called at
the District building as soon as the reap
pointment was announced today to tender
TO Mr. West their congratulations. Not a
few of these men were heard to say nice
khjngs about the unfailing fairness energy
Ind discretion brought to bear by the Com