Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-20
Arthur C. Moses Added to List of
Possibilities.
ACTUAL RESIDENCE QUESTION
Rumor of Opposition to Messrs.
Merriam and Hemphill, Should
They Be Named.


are known to be among those in contem-
plation for appointment. Three OF the
four have been named in The Star. The
four are:
William r. Merriam. Ex-Governor of
Minnesota. and claiming citizenship in the
District.
]. ]. Hemphill, ex-representative from
South Carolina, and claiming citizenship
in the District.
Gen. John A. Johnson of the District of
Columbia.
Arthur c. Moses of the DISTRICT of CO.
lumbia.
In respect to the last two no one ques-
tions their qualifications under the organic
law of the District. which requires that
for three years prior to the appointment
the appointee must not in any way have
claimed residence elsewhere than in the
District.
Question of Citizenship.
1t is assumed that the Presidents in
vestigations will take in the question OF
the exclusive citizenship In the District
of Messrs. Merriam and Hemphill, and
that If either or both go to the Senate
the President will be fully convinced as
to their coming under the provisions Of
the local law.
Among the men who talked on District
matters with the President today were
Representative Tawney of Minnesota.
chairman of the House committee on ap-
propriations; Representative Burleson OF
Texas, member of the same committee,
and Mai. Judson, Engineer Commissioner
of the District. TIE callers would not re-
veal the results, IL any, Of their confer
ences.
May Fight Nominations.
There was talk on the streets today
that the nominations of Merriam and
Hemphill, if made. will be fought in the
Senate. probably by Influential senator's.
The old Tillman and anti-Tiiman feud in
South Carolina may be revived by pos
Tillman, if reports today are correct.
The South Carolina senator, who is a
member of the Senate committee on ap-
propriations and of the subcommittee OF
that committee handling District appro-
priations is reported to have declared that
Mr. Hemphill is a poll-tax-paying, regis
tered voter and citizen of his state. Mr.
Hemphill comes from an influential fam
lily in South Carolina, and the majority OF
its members have been bitterly hostile to
Senator Tillman for many years.
1t does not apear likely that the Presi-
dent will name the Commissioners for at
least a week and possibly not until after
the holidays, but all indications today
pointed to his desire to get the problem
of his hands at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Qualification was generally expressed
that the President is at least considering
two strictly District men for the COM
missionerships, and that both have a fair
chance of appointment.
Tenure of the Incumbents.
1t is regarded as possible that Commits
sioners Mcfarland and West will remain
at the District building until after they
have had the opportunity to explain the
thousands Of details Of the District esti-
mates to the Senate appropriation commit
tee. Mr.. Macfarland said this morning
he did not know where the story that he
would be asked to remain in Office
month longer had originated. He has al
ready remained nearly a month longer
than his resignation originally contem-
plated.
He and MIR. West have an intimate
knowledge of the details of the apprOpria-
tion asked for, and Commissioner Jud-
Ason could hardly be expected to furnish
the Senate committee with the answers to
the questions concerning departments not
under his control. Neither would two new
Commissioners be primed with inforna-
ton on all the subjects contained in the
follow District affairs.
Close Scrutiny by Congress.
. The legislators ask minute questions on
requests for salaries for messengers,
scrubwomen, bailiffs for courts. amounts
of fees collected in various places, the
work of various clerks from the high
grades to the inconspicuOus and 800 more
printed pages of other questions that
only men who have had the reins of
government in hand could be expected to
answer quickly. Commissioner West said
this morning that he would stay just as
long as President Taft asked him to.
1.-The first 1 heard of the suggestion"
he said. was In conversation with Sena-
tor Gallinger a few days ago. He ex-
pressed a desire then to see the esti-
mates out of the way before two new
Commissioners should occupy the seats
of power. Sometimes. you know. when
the estimates are In conference-after the
committees are through with them-the
nation, and it would simply be out Of the
question for two new Commissioners to
answer the questions
Mr.. West said later that he would not
set a date on which he would retire alb
solutely. but he would serve the Districts s
needs to the end.
President Has Long Walk.
President Taft, attired in a sweater.
short coat and slouch hat. walked for
two hours late yesterday afternoon and
was recognized by few people who saw
him and his party. which consisted of
Gen Clarence Edwards and Capt. A. w.
Butt. The day was chilly and raw. but
at the conclusion of the long walk the
President was perspiring and his cheeks
we're pink; Gen. Edwards had taken off
the great fur Siberian coat he started
with, and Capt Butt looked warm. The
party started from the White House
about 5 O'Clock. going first toward the
speedway, thence through the Agricultur-
al and Smithsonian grounds to the Capt.
tol and over Capitol Hill and then turn
ing westward across the Capitol plaza.
The President and his party went through
the Italian quarter along 1st street and
then turned into Pennsylvania avenue,
taking that route back TO the White
House.
The President was dressed much as
Theodore Roosevelt used to dress when
he went for walk on a cold day.