Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-29
COURSE OF PRESIDENT
IS NOT COMPREHENDED
Lincoln Prevented Selection of Man
From Elsewhere.
HE MADE TROUBLE ABOUT IT
All Who Have Heretofore Held Post
Believed to Have Been Resi-
dents of District of
Columbia.

nouncement that President Taft is about
to appoint another colored man from At
lanta, Ga, to the position Of collector Of
the port of Georgetown, one Of the few
offices to which men of the District OF
Columbia would seem to be entitled as OF
right.
There is not a city In tho United
States. Or in the world. for that mat
ter, it is argued. that would patiently
submit to having it's chief ohices. those
which have to do intimately with its
local business affairs. filled by out
siders.
Less than a year ago a legal voter
of Missouri was named for the city
postmastership. Later this was fol-
lowed up with the appointment of a
colored man from Atlanta as recorder
of deeds.
Now comes the news that the entire
citizenship of the District is to be set
aside and the colored population Of tlan-
ia again drawn upon to hnd a man Tor
the collectorship Of the port OF George
town.
Taft's Course Enigmatic.
In the face of President Taft's expressed
friendliness for the District of Columbia
and his positive assurances that It's peo-
pie were to receive just consideration at
his hands, the course of events In the
matter OF filing Its local ofnces. residents
say, is not understood.
That the District Of Columbia II rich
in native material for selection for its
oficeholders goes without saying. OF the.
list Of twenty men who have held the
position Of collector of the port Of George
town, beginning in the spring of 17v1
with James NJ. Lingen. every man of
them was a recognized District. man at
the time of his appointment, 1t is de-
clared.
Lingan and John Oakley, who succeeded
him, were known to be originally from
Maryland. John Barnes. the third col
Iector of the port, was originally from
Philadelphia. But at the time of their ap-
pointment and long prior thereto, 1t Is de-
clared, every one of them was q full
fiedged resident and citizen Of the Dis
trict of Columbia
Politics Causes Trouble.
Years ago. older residents of the Dis
trict declare. the citizens of Washington
and Georgetown were deemed amply At
for the government offices that had to be
filled locally. 1t was only in later years.
when the octopus of politics began to
fasten itself upon everything In sight. to
that Dis
trtct of Columbia began to be deprived OF
its Just right to have it's affairs managed
by men Of merit within its borders VINO
had some knowledge of the affairs with
which they had to deal.
An incident Is related of President Lin
coin which seems apropos today. The
Office of register of wills was vacant and
Moses Kelly had been recommended to
the President by the Secretary of the In
terror. The President appointed him. be-
leving him to be a District man.
When he subsequently found that MT.
Kelly was from New Hampshire he was
warmly Indignant and informed the Sec
retary in a very curt note that he did
not like the looks Of things and asked
for an explanation.
As Lincoln Saw It.
The following, furnished by Hugh T.
Taegart. an old resident of the District
and quite familiar with its history. il
conv of President Lincoln's letter written
at the time:
Executive Mansion, october IA, 1851
Hon. Sec. Of Interior.
Dear Sir: How is this? I supposed 1
was appointing for register OF wills
citizen of the District. Now the commits
sion comes to me. Moses Kelly Of New
Hampshire' ] do not like this.
yours truly. "A. LINCOLN"
There are those who declare that the
appointment of the Georgia colored man
as collector at the port Of Georgetown Is
nothing more nor less than bit Of re-
sentiment of the opposition made in some
Quarters Of the District to the selection
of Sidney Bieber for the position.
'.It seems incredible that this should be
So" a prominent ciuzen said today. If
such q thing Is contemplated by those
who have urged the APPOINTMENT l can.
Taft will permit the deal TO 80 through
when he is made acquainted with the
facts"
of the citizens at the proposed appoint
ment is freely expressed and hotly de-
nounced 1t Is understood the President
is to be personally appealed to In the
matter.
Former Collectors Of Port.
The list of collectors of the port Of
Georgetown since the creation of the Of
flee is as follows:
James NJ Lingan. permanent appoint
ment, March p. 1871.
John Oakley. temporary appointment.
October Z. 1901: permanent appointment.
January g. 1902
John Barnes, temporary appointment,
May 8. 1906; permanent appointment, jan
uary 16. 1907.
Thomas Turner, permanent appointment
March 4. 1880.
Thomas Turner. permanent appointment,
April IS, 1894
Thomas Turner. permanent appointment,
February %. 1893.
Robert White, permanent appointment
July 81. 1870.
Robert White, temporary appointment,
July 2, 1S45; permanent appointment,
February 26. 1876.
Henry Addison. temporary appoint