Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
Commissioner Consents to Remain in
Office Until January l.
REGRET AT DISTRICT BUILDING
Warm Expressions Of Regard and
Praise for Retiring omcial Head.
Discussing His Successor.

not receive a direct tip from the White
House that his resignation at this time
was desired.
The correspondence exchanged between
the President and Commissioner Mac
farland yesterday afternoon was made
public last night. Acknowledging the
formal letter Of resignation Of Mr.. Mac
farland, President Taft wrote him:
"I have your note rendering your resig-
nation. to take effect the list OF De-
cember, in order that you may begin the
practice Of law. I send you this infor-
NAL acknowledgment to ask you, In
resignation so that 1t shall not take erect
until the 1st of January. at which time
1 will send you fuller and more formai
acknowledgment
To this note Commissioners Macfariaho
replied:
of this date, just received I am very
glad indeed to serve you by stating
that nv resignation shall not take erect
until the LIST Of January next. l named
the LIST of December because / desired
to begin active practice as soon as pos.
sibla, and because our years work VIII
then be practically finished. / realize
that my resignation was q surprise 10
you. and that you should have all the
time you desire to consider the selection
of my successor"
Many Expressions Of Regret.
Many were the expressions Of regret
heard around the District building yes
terday. after II became known that Com
missioner Mcfarland had decided to give
I'D his public office. The heads OF the
several departments over which MI
Macfarland has supervision declared that
their Official relations with him had been
fhat a
him a loyal supporter OF Improvements
which they suggested for the good OF the
service or for the benefit of the pubic.
my. official relations with Mr. Macfar.
land have always been most pleasant,
declared Health Onicer w. c. WOODWARD.
And I found him a stanch supporter
of policies which I suggested to improve
the efficiency OF the health department.
DR.. William Tindall. secretary 10 tne
Commissioners. also paid a high tribute
to the work Of Mr.. Macfarland while one
of the Districts heads.
During the nine and a half years
which Mr.. Macfarland has devoted 70 the
public service as a Commissioned OF the
District Of Columbia" he said, Its oe-
velopment in the lines of municipal I'M
provement has not been less marked than
the results achieved by the board o< pub
lie works, which started the Nationai
Capital on the road to metropolitan gran
deur. His influence has not only been
broadly felt in the physical improvement
Of the District, but was especially enec-
tive in the lines of muntcipai altruism
His forceful manner OF presenting on al
suitable occasions the Districts advan-
tages has greatly conduced 10 impressins
the country at large with the grandeur
of the capitals destiny. and their DUTY
toward making II worthy Of the nation.
He has been the patient and steadfast
friend of every District employe worth!
of It, and unfailrg in courtesy and serv-
ice to all who had occasion to call upon
him for official action or advice
other expressions heard around the
District building during the day were
lust as complimentary. Many pointed
out that the District has attained its
highest development when Mr.. Macfar-
lands influence has been felt as one OF
the triumvrate at the helm OF the local
ship OF state.
Day Of Suppressed Excitement.
Yesterday was a day of suppressed ex-
element throughout the building. In
every corridor at every minute during
the day could be seen little knots of
clerks talking In whispers of the clean
sweep on the board OF Commissioners,
so far as it's civil members are con-
cerned. The resignation or COMMITS
sioner West had come as complete
surprise to practically everybody in the
District service. and during the day fol-
lowing il, there was general quietue
placed on the many rumors that had
permeated the building to the effect that
Commissioner Mcfarland expected to re-
by many that Mr. VESTS resignation
would mean the keeping OF Mr.. Macfar-
land on the board, as the man to con-
tinue the policies that have meant the
upbuilding of the National Capital along
many lines.
Then the announcement of the resig-
nation of Mr.. Mcfarland came like
thunderclap. -.
One clerk had hardly finished asking
the question as to the reason for the
resignation, when another ventured
suggestion as to their successors. And
while there was wonderment as 10 the
reason for the twin designations. there
was the widest curiosity a. to the iden-
tity of their successors.
AS employees Of the government, the
clerks are practically a unit In favoring
the selection of at least one of the new
commissioners from among the present
heads of departments. The talk center
ed around the four suggested candidates
in the building. Auditor Alonzo Twee-
dale. Assessor William p. Richards, Maj.
Richard Sylvester and Corporation Coun-
sci E. H. Thomas.
Friends Urging Candidacy.
Friends of Mr.. Tweedale urged him as
the proper selection because he has been
the watchdog of the Districts treasury
for some years, because he has had an
opportunity to get a broad-gauge view of
the entire financial and administrative
features of the government through hav-
ing charge of the accounting of the Dis
tricts expenditures.
Mr.. Richards also had strong supporters
among the clerks in the building. They
point to his connection with several de-
partments of the government as a proper
training for a man who will be at the
helm and they declare that in his posi-
lions as surveyor and assessor he has be-
come familiar with the ply steal condi-
tions and needs of the National Capital.
and has been closely identified with the
revenue sources Of the municipal corpora
ton. .
A favorite candidate. among many 9TH
ers, was Corporation Counsel z. HI.
Thomas His friends pointed to the fact
that Mr.. Taft is a lawyer and that In the
selection of the members Of his cabinet
and other advisers in his administration
he has chosen largely from among the
legal lights Of the country. They ask
why should not President Taft have a
leaning toward q lawyer for one Of the
District commissionerships. And Mr..
Thomas Is pointed to as q winner because
of his familiarity with the Districts bust
ness and his standing In the legal pro-
fession in the National Capital.
The efficiency of the administration of
the affairs of the police department by
Maj. sylvester and the rank which he has
he rhtofs ~ ba