The Washington times., 1909-05-01
PRESIDENT DELAYS =
REAPPOINTMENT OF
H. BE-. MACF FARLAN
Taft Studying Form of Gov
ernment Before Appoint
ing Man.
MAY ASK CHANGE
IN PRESENT LAW
Reynolds Report Gives Executive
Food for Thought, According to
Close Friends.
By JAMES Hay. IR.

Because the President is not salts
fed Nth the present form of the
District government he viii not rel
appoint Henry B. F. Macfarland Al
Commissioner at this time.
Mr.. Macfarland's term of tn
years expires May s and Mr.. I
desires to have until next fall tfl1S
opportunity to determine whether
the recommendations of the Rey-
nolds report should be adopted and
the District of Columbia governed
by one man, to be known as
mayor or governor.
While the President has made no an
nouncement OF his purpose, Il II ~
ported in Administration circles that
the foregoing is his program.
The fact that he has delayed until
within four days OF the expiration OF
Mr.. Nacfarland's term any announce
mens OF what disposition would be made
of the office. is taken as sufficient evil
dence thas, while Mr Macfariand is not
to be reappcinted az this tine. he wiz
be retaine1 in the position OF commits
sionfr until the President reaches a final
decision
Not Satisfied.
AS long ago as last December. when
Mr.. Taft was at Augusta. Ca. it was
known that he was not satisfied that
the corznission form OF government
was the best possible for the District
Since then. however. the pressure Of
the tarin bill and other national mat
ters has been so great that he has not
had time to study the matter IS thor
oughly as he desired
1t is said by friends OF Mr.. Taft
that his decision not 10 reappoint Mr.
AfacfarIand at this time cannot be taken
as any indication that Mr. Macfarland
would I'll to get the reppointment II the
present form Of Government shC5ld be
continued
In order to change the form OF Gov
ernment, there would have TO be legia-
Iation by Congress and Mr.. Taft's pro
gram would be to recommend the
change to Congress as was done by Mr.
Roosevelt before he went out OF office
The Reynolds Report
The Reynolds report which was for
warded to Congress by President Roose-
velz- recommends the appointment OF a
/ GcireJnor at salary OF $4,000 a year
| zs United States should be ELI
! gh> DE- position.
8 r -sz-.';sfag to this plan the governor
fzgzSSstlir : AVE under him Commissioners
NJ aszzrtments. such as police. taxa
] :. n. public works, and tn eother I'M
3ortz1t branches OF the city and county
sav,srnment-
ing ~ Stha reports, that hte President
] has not a. any way made up his mind
whether or not to let the present gov
ernaent stand His determine ton 10
for long or short time. as the case
may be, is simply the means OF graft
Tying his Wish te study the situation
Named For Three Years.
According to the present law. a Dis
trict Commissioner is appointed Tor
shree years. and holds his place until
the end Of the three years or until his
successor is named. Under this provis--
ion. therefore, the President can let
Mr. Macfariand hold the place for any
length of time ne may choose OF he
may reappoint him or name another
man at any later dste he chooses
Has Many Friends.
There have been many people at the
White House within the last few weeks
to recommend Sae appointment of
Mr.. Macfariand, aid several other men
have been mentioned as candidates for
the place. All of his activity, however,
was unnecessary owing to the Presi-
dents plan OF holding himself free to
| recommend to Congress the chance in
government.