Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01
NOTED" BY MORROW
Commissioner Sets Precedent
in District Appointment.
FAILS TO APPROVE WOOD
First Time in History Nominations
Have Not Been Unanimous.
DECLINES TO GIVE REASONS
New Superintendent Of Street Clean
ing, However, Says They Are
Personal Ones.

precedent was established In the Dis
trict government yesterday in connection
with the promotion of James NJ. Wood
from the position of an inspector In the
street cleaning department to that of su-
perintendent of street cleaning, in that
the appointment was not unanimous.
Commissioner Morrow declined to ap-
prove it.
Commissioner Morrow did not disap-
prove it or make any reference on the off,
cial paper. He simply marked it noted"
and signed his name. This action on the
part of Commissioner Morrow called for
much comment about the District build
ing yesterday afternoon when it became
known. Older officials of the District say
that never before in the history of the
present government do they recall where
an appointment of an official was not
made unanimous.
When Commissioner Morrow was
asked for an explanation for establishing
this precedent he said he had made known
his position in the matter several days
before Commissioner West, who has su-
pervision of the street cleaning depart
ment. made the recommendation for Mr..
Woods promotion, and that he (Maj.
Morrow has no desire to make his rea-
sons public. He said If he had marked
the recommendation "disapproved'' In
stead of noted" he would then have
given some explanation.
Mr.. Wood Talks.
When Mr.. Wood was seen at his home,
GIL 10th street northwest, last night,
and asked about Maj. Morrow's action
In connection with his appointment, he
said he believed the major had personal
reasons.
destinations were made about me last
winter said Mr.. Wood Ito the effect
that l purchased a delinquent tax GER
tificate and later disposed of it. This
insinuation is absolutely false and mali
cious and has since been proven false.
Commissioner West made thorough in
vestigation and from the abundance of
evidence produced by me he was con-
WINGED that the insinuations or charges
were unfOunded and he lost no time in
generating me.
What l did, to call for this attempt
on the part OF any one to defame my
character" said Mr.. Wood. was to pur-
chase a certificate for a piece of proper
ty In connection with the condemnation
of the Bladensburg road. which project
was being advocated and engineered by
the East End Suburban Citizens AssO-
citation, of which organization l am sec
rotary, and for which / made the pur-
chase. 1t is true the purchase was In my
name as secretary but the records of the
association show that l Immediately re-
corded the transaction in the books OF
that organization and later turned into
it's treasury $12. the sum received by me
for the sale Of the cancellation on the
property. The records further show that
by a resolution l was authorized to act
for the association. When these facts were
put before Mr.. West he was satisfied, as
any sane man would have BEEN
Old Law Quoted.
There is q clause In an old law of 1S5S,
which has never been repealed, which
prohibits employees of the ''city hall
from purchasing delinquent property IN
the District. The law reads:
1T shall not be lawful for any collector,
registrar surveyor, clerks. or other OF
ficers employed in the city hall by the
authority of this corporation to be con-
cerned directly or indirectly. In the pur-
chase of any property offered for sale
for arrearage Of taxes due to the said
corporation; and the collector or other
officer who shall be found SO offending
shall be forthwith dismissed from Office.
Mr. Wood said last night that a Ger
tain employee" of the engineer department
had learned that he had bought this
certificate. and without familiarizing him
ferred to the corporation counsel. The
latter gave an opinion that Mr.. Wood
had in no way violated the law and that
his action was perfectly proper Mr..
Wood said that any small-sized boy would
have known that and he considers the
interest In the matter taken by the Ger
tain employee of the engineer depart
ment as malicious.
Il