The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-15
TAFT TO 60 SLOW
In NAMING BOARD
In Touch With Local Senti-
ment About Vacancies.
PRESSING BUSINESS AHEAD
President Is Said to Have Optimistic
View and VIII Likely Appoint
Local Men 10 Succeed Commission
era MacfarIand aud West-Resi-
Dental Qualifications TO Figure.

President Taft has indicated his inten-
tion to take time in choosing the success
sors OF District Commissioners West and
Macfarland. For this reason he asked
them 70 continue in Office until the first
OF the year. He has other Executive
matters of pressing and paramount inn
portance in hand. and desires opportunity
to take up District affairs deliberately
and at leisure
Il viii not be surprising. however. in
view OF the pressure for consideration in
behalf of various aspirants following the
two unexpected designations. il the Presi-
dent should dispose of the appointments
more speedily than he at hrst cOntem-
plated. That the nominations will reach
the Senate early in the session Of Con-
gress is reasonably sure. Once he has
reached a decision as 10 the gentlemen
best equipped, in his opinion, to admins
lister the affairs OF the District. he Will
act promptly. in order that they may be
confirmed and assume their duties with
out unnecessary delay.
No Thought of "Carpet-bag Rule"
The President. it IS said. has never
entertained thought Of looking outside
OF Washington for a Commissioner
for governor or mayor, in the now re-
mote contingency OF change by Con-
gress of the form Of District government.
But. having IN mind constantly that this
is the National City. in whose destiny
the whole country is interested. he is
not expected to draw a sharp local line
touching the question OF eligibility.
AS stated IN this paper yesterday, it is
possible. If not probable. that one Of the
new Commissioners will represent dis
tinctively the national life OF Washing
ton. and the other the best local interests
both Of course, residents OF the Cap
ital and fully identified with its affairs.
II was with such an equation in view
that he had in mind. some months ago,
type OF man like the late Gen. II. c.
Corbin, Cen. John NJ Wilson, or Gen.
John A Johnston (these ineligible. per-
haps, owing to army regulations) as the
successor Of Mr.. Macfarland
In Touch with Local Sentiment.
II is not 20 be expected that the Presi-
dent, with his work accumulated and ac-
cumulating, can give many or extended
hearings in behalf OF the score or more
Of aspirants for the Commissionerships
But he will nevertheless act advisedly
and endeavor TO make appointments that
will commend themselves TO Washing
ton. as we'll as to Congress. He has
come into touch with citizens and local
sentiment and is familiar in a general
way with the present situation. As to
the future OF washington. he IS thor
oughly optimistic. He wishes to see its
continued development along well-defined,
logical lines that will make for the city's
permanent glory as a great capital The
new Commissioners, whoever they be.
will understand his views and enter upon
their duties with a perfect understand
ing Of his broad far-seeing policies as
to Greater Washington
Residential Qualification.
There is scant patience in administra-
ton circles with the view that a man
ike MIR. Grandfeld. for example whose
official duties have made him a resident
of Washington for a quarter Of a century.
Is not quite as eligible to become CITY
postmaster as the man who has been A
long resident outside OF official life. There
is a sharp and obvious distinction be-
tween the choice of such a man and the
importation OF an outsider to hold a
local Office. Portmaster General Hitch
cock holds that in Mr.. Grandneld he Sc
lected in the fullest sense a Washing
tonian. even II the appointee does happen
to have held his voting rights in Missouri
for these last twenty-five years. and in
approving the appointment the President
showed that he was in perfect accord
with that view.
Mir. Taft has made the point that he
himself Is Washingtoniaa, though his