The San Francisco call., 1907-03-27
William r. Wheeler
Is an immigration
Commissioner
SPECIAL DISPATCH 10 THE GAIL


WASHINGTON. March 26.-The Pres
fdent completed the immigration Com
mission today by the selection OF VII
liam r. Wheeler Of San Francisco as
the third civilian member The COM
mission wiz organize about May ] and
win hold hearings at the principal
ports. including San Francisco. 1t is
probable that one or more members OF
the commission VIII visit Hawaii and
the Orient Tor the purpose Of inyesti-
eating Asistic immigration.
Wheeler is highly regarded by the
President. He was under consideration
at one time for the Isthmian Canal
Commission, and later would have been
appointed a member OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission If the place had
not already been promised TO a Demo
crat, Franklin *. Lane receiving the
appointment
While Wheeler is not a specialist in
immigration questions. his judicial tenn
permanent and the thoroughness Of his
work in other lines convinced the Pres
ident that he would make an excellent
Commissioners. 1t is probable that the
salary Of the civilian Commissioners
viii be fixed at $500.
The Commissioners viii elect their
fAn EGCLElALls ~ ID llcNAANdlAe ENN-AtAA
that Morton j.. Crane formerly Wash
ington correspondent Of The Call viii
be chosen.
william r. Wheeler is general man
ager Of the firm Of lIOlbroOk. Merrill &
Stetson. and has taken conspicuous in
Iorest in matters affecting industrial
affairs OF the Pacific Coast. He has
long been regarded as the foremost ex-
pert Of this section on traffic questions.
He furnished the Interstate Commerce
Commission at its recent hearing in
this city with a great deal of infOrma-
tion on transcOnunental rates. and first
became acquainted with President
Roosevelt through his active participa-
tiOn In traffic investigation.
I was very much surprised 10 re-
ceive this appointment from the Presi-
dent" said Mr. Wheeler last night, and
my first reply TO his telegram con-
tanned only a tentative acceptance Of
his offer have since come TO the
conclusion, however, that 1 should not
allow private interests 10 stand in the
way of accepting the appointment. The
commission is composed Of three Sen
ators. three Representative and three
civilians appointed by the President.
The bili providing for the creation Of
the commission was passed by Congress
on February 20. II provides, among
other things. for the calling by the
President of an international confer
ence or the sending Of commissioners
TO foreign countries for the purpose OF
regulating by International agreement,
subject 10 the advice and consent OF
the Senate, the immigration Of aliens
10 the United States. The President,
presume, wished TO have California
represented on the commission because
of the vital interest Il has IN the Ques-
ton OF Asiatic immigration. The com
mission viii probably divide itself into
sections, each one OF which viii devote
its attention 10 a separate class of i'm
migration. Testimony viii probably be
taken from the different classes OF la
Dor and other interests affected by i'm
migration, and the final report and rec
concentrations to be made by the COM
mission viii, 7 presume, be based on
this testimony"