Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-22
HANDCUFFEO IN COURT NO CAUSE ANNOUNCED
Officers Anticipate Night Rider White House Retcent Regard
Plot to Escape ing Maj. MorroW's Transfer.
STORIES TOLD OF CRIMES MANY COMPLAINTS MADE
Chain of Evidence Drawn Tighter Maj Cosby Becomes New Engineer
Around Prisoners. Commissioner.
BURNING OF FISH DOCKS MEETS HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
Gives Names-Whpped West Highly o Retiring
to Testify. andIn Incoming
Maj. Cosby Becomes New Engineer
Commissioner.
MEETS HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
Commissioners Macfarland and
West Speak Highly Of Retiring
and Incoming Official.


Reticence was maintained at the White
House today about the relief OF Mai.
Morrow by Maj. Spencer Cosby as Engi-
neer Commissioner of the District Sec
retary Loeb surpassed his usual efforts
to prevent facts from getting out. and
gazed far off to the snow white trees Of
the White House grounds as evidence
Of the fact that he couldn't be made to
impart his knowledge on this question.
When asked the specific question IL the
relief of Mai. Morrow was due to any
letter he had written to the President
relative to certain action the President
desired taken at the District building
Secretary Loeb said he would not make
comment upon this or any other report.
1t has been known for some time that
complaints had been pouring into the
White House of a bell'gerent disposition
of the Engineer Commissioner in hand
ling public questions ar.sing in his office.
The immediate cause o. the removal
of Commissioners Morrow, however. was
a letter written by him to the President
1t is understood that the letter related to
the matter of purchasing suppl es. This
IS as far as any information gotten out.
maj. VOSDy SWoru III.
Within couple of hours after the is
suance of the formal order of the War
Department appointing Maj. Cosby to be
Engineer Commissioner of the District TO
succeed Maj. Morrow the transfer was
made at the District building. Maj. Cos
by was sworn in late yesterday afternoon
by Dr.. William Tindall, secretary to the
Commissioners. and at once went into
consultation with his predecessor regard-
ing the duties which he must perform.
The retiring and incoming Engineer Com
missicners were together for several
hours.
Maj. Cosby met many heads of depart
ments and other employees of the District
this morning. a constant stream OF Wis
itors passed into his office and they were
presented by Mai. Morrow and Chief
Clerk Garges.
His first official act this morning Was
signing a recommendation presented by
Louis c. Wilson. disbursing officer. that
the supervising principals and princi. ais
schools be requested to call at the d.sbu- -
ing office the first day of every month at
1890 instead of IL am, to receiy: tho
checks for the teachers under their super.
vision. and calling attention TO the rule
that the undelvered checks must be re-
turned before : O'Clock of the same day.
Great Surprise to Many.
The transfer in the Office OF Engineer
Commissioner of the District came as
great surprise to those around the Dis
trict building Prior to yesterday morn
i'm: no one had an inkling that a change
was contemplated. As the day wore on
it became known to Il few OF the intimate
friends of Maj. Morrow and about ::
o'clock il began to be whispered around
the building. There were many express
sions of regret at the transfer OF Maj.
Morrow, and to him it is known these
We're a source of qualification.
There is much gossip around the cor
ridors and in the offices as TO the reason
for the sudden change. When Maj. Nor
row was approached on the matter he re-
piled that his lips were sealed.
1t is understood from reliable sources
that the transfer was the result of some
correspondence which passed between
Maj Morrow and the President. The
chief executive wrote to the District
Commissioners, making a request or
them In addit on to actiong with the
other Commissioners on the matter. MAJ.
Morrow is said to have written an indi-
vidual letter TO the President, stating his
position on the request and his attitude
toward the engineer commissionership.
Both Commissioners Macfarland and
West today refused To discuss the rea-
sons for Maj. Morrow transfer.
The appointment of Maj. Cosby Is gen.
orally approved by those who know him
or are familiar with his work In the
army, and it IS freely predicted that ho
will fill the position acceptabiy TO lhe
people of the District.
Expressions by Commissioners.
Both Commissioners Macfarland and
West speak in high terms of Maj Nor
row with whom their relations had been
pleasant. they say. and they also COM
mend the selection of Maj Cosby.
Commissioner Macfarland said today:
while I regret, because of our agree
able personal relations, the leaving OF
Mai. Morrow and appreciate all the good
work he has done for the District of CO.
lumioia I am glad that he Is only going
to the Washington aqueduct, where he
will be able TO render further service 10
the National capital. and am very glao
that his successor is Maj. Cosby, because
he is 50 familiar with our affairs and SD
sympathetic with or policies for the uc-
velopment OF tie National capital MAJ.
Cosby has lived much i'll Washington
that he understands II thoroughly ano
this Will be great help to MN anu :"
US
Commissioner Yves. said: Maj. Morrow
began his connection with the Dlstric1
government some five years ago DIS ar
sistant to the Engineer Commissioner ana
while he held that office and afterward as
successor to Engineer Commissioners BIG
die came into close and frequent toucn
Will, him in the administration OF off1ciat
duty ana learned 10 TtSpeCt
and conscientious devotion To his Tofk-
He has been identified with some or the
largest improvements IN the District
notably the Union station Improvement,
the Connecticut Avenue bridge. the con-
struction of the new pumping station ana
the installation Of the sewage dlsposai
system. and to his personal attention TO
the details OF these larce enterprises Is
largely due the successful results WHICH
have been accomplished.
MY personal relations with hlm nave
been extremely pleasant. and on this ac-
count regret his transfer
cit is my good fortune. however, 20 ne
personally acquainted with Maj. cosby,
his suct essor, whose appoin ment IS par
ticularly appropriate. inasmuch as ne mas
been identified with the management OF
the filtration plant and is unusually well
acquainted with District affairs he Is q
talented officer and will unquestionably
make a good Engineer Commissioner
Mai. Cosby's Career.
Mai Cosby is familiar with conditions
i'm the District. not only because of his de-
tail here fer several years past. but
through early training received in the
local schools and colleges. He was horn
in Maryland October =, 1857. and Is the