The sun., 1909-11-14
HRF. MCFARLAND RESIGNS
RETIRES FROM OFFICE as DIS
TRICT COMMISSIONER

WASHINGTON. Nov. ia local sensa-
ton was caused to-day by the announce
r,ent that Henry B. +. mcfarland, Presi-
dent Of the Board OF Commissioners OF
,he District OF Columbia. has presented
nj, resignation TO President Taft. Two
days ago Henry Litchfield West. the
c,her civilian member OF the Board OF
Comm ssi oners. handed in his resignation.
Al the time the announcement was made
that Mr. West had resigned nothing came
10 light to show that his resi- gnation was
other than voluntary, but the news OF
the similar step taken by Mr.. Macfarland
started a crop OF rumors that the two
civilian Commissioners were quitting
Office because President Taft was dis
satisfied with the condition OF Govern
msnt affairs in the District OF Columbia.
All the evidence at hand. however.
.ppears TO show that those rumors are
without foundation. President Taft and
the two retiring Commissioners declared
that there was no personal dissatisfaction
IN the Presidents part and that each
resignation was entirely voluntary. In
a recent issue OF a magazine an article
vas published with the design OF showing
that the Government OF the District OF
Columbia was practically in the control
NJ a coterie OF local business men and
fpanciers, but there is every reason TO
believe that the statements made in this
article had no influence whatever at the
White House. IL indeed 1t was seen there.
or on the action taken by Mr.. Macfsrland
and Mr.. West.
The situation presented by the resigna-
tion Of the two civilian Commissioners
Of the histrict has more than a local inn
portance. however. While President
Taft has said since his return to Washing
ton from his swing around the circle that
he had reached no conclusion In the mat
ter Of devising a new form OF government
for the district il is known that the
President is greatly inclined toward the
establishment OF one man government
here which would carry with II the aboli-
tion Of the present system Of a tripartite
form Of administration. Il win be necss-
sary. however. for the President to OBJ
tain legislation by Congress in order to
enable him to carry out any such change.
That Mr.. Macfsrisnd and Mr.. West
we're alike aware Of the Presidents views
on the subject and were unwilling to
Permit themselves to be involved any
longer in the uncertainty that existed as
TO the future government OF the capital
city and the Federal district is under
stood in well informed circles here.
The Board OF Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia consists OF three
members, two civilians and one officer
Of the Corps OF Engineers Of the United
State Army. The organic law provides
that there shall be such an arrangement.
While it is declared by the CORPORATION
Counsel OF the District of Columbia that
there is nothing in law to prevent the
appointment OF two civilian Commis-
sioners from the same political party
the impression mas prevailed that there
was such provision, and at any rate the
President Of the United States has always
followed the custom OF having one Demo-
crat and one Republican on the board.
Both Mr.. mcfarland and Mr.. West
we're newspaper men in Washington at
the Offices from which they are about
70 retire. Mr.. Mcfarland was appointed
as Republican by President Mckinley
m 1900 and Mr.. West was appointed as a
Democrat by President Roosevelt in 1907
The third member of the board is Major
William v. Judson OF the Corps OF Engi-
neers. United States Army. who has served
short time only.
The term Of each Commissioner is three
years. Mr.. Vests second term expired
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Macfarlands s
third term expired in May. 1900, but
President Taft did not reappoint him.
Instead the President continued Mr..
Macfariand in Office under a temporary
1t was explained at that
time that the reason for the Presidents
failure to reappoint Mr.. mcfarland was
that Mr.. Taft was studying the question |
OF changing the form OF government Of |
the District Of Columbia and did not |
wish to make any appointment to the !
Board OF Commissioners for fixed term (
Uf years as ne might in the meantime /
obtain legislation which would require |
the appointment Of one man only to man !
age the affairs Of the district.
That Mr.. mcfarland was disappointed 1
and little hurt over this attitude Of the 4
President. believing as he did that he 4
should have been recommissioned as
recognition OF his services. was known TO
Mr.. Macfariand's friends, but nothing
on the subject was said to President Taft !
and no friction between the President
and Mr.. Macfarland resulted. =.
Both Mr.. West and Mr.. Macfarland
desired to retire from their official duties
within a few weeks, Mr.. Macfarland
fixing December as the date for the ac-
ever. were asked by Mr.. Taft to remain
~ office until January at least, and Mr..
consented. but Mr.. West
explained that his business arrangements
were such that he could not retain the
utfice much longer. In his interview with
Mr.: West on Thursday and with MIR. Mac
farlsnd to-day Mr.. Taft showed surprise
a. their action and express ID regret over |
their contemplated retirement. .t,
Mr.. West has been for some time
arranging to return to the newspaper
business. He recently obtained an in
terest in the Washington Herald. and will i
be associated jointly with Scott G. Bone
IN the control and management OF that
newspaper. He told the President that
he was anxious to enter on this new
venture right away.
Mr., Macfarland has contemplated re-
tlrement also for some time In fact ever
since his third term as commissioner ex-
PRED and President Taft failed to reap
point him. Last February he was ad-
nltted 10 the bar OF the District OF Colum-
ma with a view to engaging I'm the prac-
Z Ise of law and in addition was elected re-
Gently TO the vice-presidency Of a new
national bank ..-
In statement made to-day Mr.. Macfar-
and said that he had resigned in ORDER
10 practice law and intended 20 resign
eyer since he was admitted to the bar.
he had delayed doing so. he said, in order
10 accomplish certain things connected
WITH the District government and of a
semi official character In which he was