Evening star., 1909-05-01
MCFARLAND To
REMAIN UNDER
OLD COMMISSION
Taft to Delay Reappointment
Pending Possible Change in
Form of Government.
PRESIDENT OF BOARD
STAYS AT LEAST A YEAR
National Executive Has Not Yet De-
eide IS to Be Done.
TALKS WITH CONGRESSMEN
consults With Them Regarding
Conditions of Administration in
Capital Which Need Cor
rection.
National Executive Has Not Yet De-
eide IS to Be Done.
lLKS WITH CONGRESSMEN

President Taft Is not fully satisfied
with the form of the District govern
ment
Until he determines what recommends
tons he will make to Congress on the
subject he will not, as his intention il
point Henry B. F. Masfarland as Commits
sioner for another three years term al
though he will continue Mr.. Macfarland
in office for at least another year, from
May 5. when his present term expires.
The President is not dissatisfied with
Mr.. Macfarland or his services. On the
other hand, he considers him an able.
conscientious public officer who has done
splendid work in his position. and will
not disturb him there under existing CON-
ditions
The Presidents views as to the form OF
the District government have not crys-
tailized, because he has not had time to
make the study he desires to do between
now and the reassembling of Congress In
regular session. The President has dis
cussed the situation with Senator Gailin-
ger and Representative Smith, chairmen.
respectively. of the Senate and House
committees on the District of Columbia
Ideas Have Not Taken Form.
The President has. as stated, reached
no decision as to whether, in his opinion.
the Commissioner form Of government
should be succeeded by q one headed gov
ernment. with a governor or mayor As
to suffrage in the District, he has given
it little thought, but is understood to be
opposed.
The pressure of the tariff and other ma
tiona1 matters has taken up SO much OF
the time of the President that he has not
been able to give the District government
the consideration he desires and will give
it later on.
The President has had conferences with
prominent local citizens as to the reap
pointment of Commissioner Mcfarland.
The almost unanimous sentiment of lead
ing citizens of the District who have talk
ed with the President was that no better
selection of Commissioner could be
made than Mr.. MacfarIand.
The President. according to all advices,
has been in sympathy with these views.
His personal regard for Mr.. Macfarland
is high. He has had no other man in
mind for Commissioner.
But for his possible determination to
ask Congress to change the form of gov
ciIIneHt, IL Is Sdl0. lie WOuf0 issue COM
mission at this time to Mr.. Macfarland
for another three years His belief. from
his talks with the heads of the District
committees in Congress. is that the ma
tional legislative body will be willing to
consider the question of government at
the regular session and dispose OF II.
Wants Freedom to Act.
Should the executive and legislative
branches both agree upon single-headed
government the President wants to be
free to make appointment without
even an indirect obligation to continue
either of the Commissioners now in Of
flee. Should Congress take no action al
the next session as to the District, the
President will be free to commission Mr..
Macfarland for a three-year term or per-
NIT him to continue in Office indefinitely.
A few names were mentioned to the
President as possible successors to Com
missioner Macfarland. At one time there
was talk that the President would name
James Henry, correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Press, as commissioner. This
had no more foundation than the known
good opinion of the President for Mr..
Henry.
The President at no time has given
serious thought to naming a new man as
Commissioner.