Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-20

| E. w. W. Griffin.
Following a prolonged illness, Edwin
Wesley Wallace Griffin, assessor of the
District of Columbia, died yesterday
morning at his home, 1921 list street
northwest in the seventy-fifth year of
| his age
Although Mr. Griffin had enjoyed cx-
| cellent health for many years and had
never been absent from his official duties
on sick leave he had been rapidly failing
/ in health since last March. and his death
| resulted from Bright'S disease. He fell
into a state of coma Friday morning, and
| gradually sank without reganing con-
| seriousness. His wife and two sons, E.
Percy Griffin and II. Clifford Griffin, were
present when the end came yesterday.
MI Grifhn's Career.
Mr. Griffin was born in Georgetown No
vember II, 1913 and received his educa-
| ton at the Georgetown College. He was
communicate of the Trinity +. +.
Church and a member of the Board of
| Trade. He became a Master Mason De-
cember II, 1866. of Dawson Lodge, No.
| rs, F. a. A: NJ, and withdrew in May
| 1858, to become a charter member of
| Pentalpha Lodge, No. 23. T. A. A. NJ.
| He was elected a member of the Wash
ington Chapter. Royal Arch Masons May
Is. 1867 and a member of Washington
| Commandery, No. l. Knights Templar,
| June If 1861.
| E. w. w. Griffin entered the service of
| the District government March 20. 1876,
| as clerk in the office of thee assessor at
| a salary of So a day. Less than a year
| later he was transferred. at the same
! compensation. TO the District treasurers
| Office and July T. 1879. he was given
| promotion which carried with it a salary
| of ST i'm
| chosen field of endeavor earned another
| promotion for Mr.. Griffin exactly two
| years later, when he was placed on the
| annual roll at compensation of 81, 400
| per annum.
| Although he clung steadily to the serv-
ice of the District Mr.. Griffin changed
| offices several times before finally set
Ting in the assessors division. He was a
clerk for the collector of taxes i'll the ifs
cal year beginning July ]. 1852. at S1,2O
per annum, and at the end of that period
secured a transfer to a clerkship author
lied by the act of March 8. 1883. in the
assessors Office. April 1. 1891. he was
given the responsible post of assistant as
SCISSOR at 81 800 year. and the next year
he was made assistant assessor at $1,000
| and assigned to act as one of the menu
bers of the excise board. For Il time in
1902 he was acting assessor. and his final
promotion to the assessorshp came OctO-
Der g. 1906, the advancement i'm office TAX
ing effect January 1. 1907. upon the res
ignation of Mr. Darniele.
A Capable Official.
Than Mr.. Griffin few men were better
posted on the intricacies of the conduct
of the affairs of the government of the
District of Columbia. and ne was re-
garded by all of his sGperiors as d very
capable official. He was especially faith
full and conscientious in the execution of
his dut..i. and it was said of him that he
never sought a holiday, other than his
regular annual leave, in all of the period
of his service in the District government.
During nearly all of his life, too, he en-
joyed excellent health and until he was
attacked by the ailmenL which finally
caused his death, less than year ago, he
never had occasion to ask for use any
of his "sick leave" In November last
he was first compelled to leave the office
because of sickness. but he recovered par
TALLY within few weeks and again re-
turned to his post.
Il When lie took sick leave in November
he formally designated Benjamin +.
Adams, assistant assessor. to act as
SCISSOR in all routine matters relating TO
the conduct OF the department, and when
Mr.. Griffin took to his bed in March
1903, Mr.. Adams assumed the reins of of
flee Even though i'll, Mr. Griffin contin-
ued TO exercise supervision of the more
important matters in the assessors divi-
sion. even down to the LIST OF the present
month. and all of the communications of
| consequence going on; of the office bore
his signature. All such matters in which
he thought his chief would be anxious to
keep posted and to give the final direc-
tons Mr.. Adams took to Mr. Griffin s
home. and from his bed the assessor
either sent out the letters or issued his
orders. He took particularly active in
terest in the selection of the furniture for
the assessors Office in the new District
building and in the arrangement of the
new quarters. and it was one of the great
est sorrows of his last conscious hours
that he would not live to see the asses
sor's Office and all other departments of
the local government in full operation in
the magnificent new structure on Penn
Sylvania avenue.
Funeral Tomorrow.
| The funeral services will be held at .
o'clock tomorrow afternoon at his late
residence Rev. Lionel A. Wye assistant
rector OF Trinity p E. Church, will con-
duct the services at the house, while The
Masons will have charge of the services
at the grave. Interlnent will be made in
Oak Hill cemetery.
Arrangements for the funeral are being
| made by members of Pentalpha Lodge
| and members of Washington Command
cry, No /. knights Templar. and burial
will be in accordance with the Masonic
| ritual.
The pallbearers will be selected from
members of the two orders mentioned
| Matthew Trimble. assistant assessor of
i the District. and lifelong friend of Mr..
i Griffin. has been invited to serve
/ Much regret was expressed by officials
at the District building today over the
death of Mr.. Griffin. Commissioner West,
under whose direct supervision Mr. Grif-