Evening star., 1911-01-27
Cause of Speech by Bennett,
Commissioners Believe.
RECALL FIGHT FOR PLACE
Labor Leaders Failure to Secure
Appointment May Be Reason.
NO GROUND FOR STATEMENT
Assessments Made on Basis of Two
Thirds Value of Property,
Commissioners Declare.

Commissioners Declare.
James L. Feeney. who has failed sew
eral times to secure an appointment under
the District government, is held respousi-
BILE at the District building for the speech
OF Representative Bennett of New York
yesterday I'm the House of Representatives.
The Commissioners will not say so in a
direct statement for publication, but II
burning ears are a sign that some one IL
talking about some one else, then Mr..
Feeney's ears must have attained a ruddy
glow that would be near TO complete in
cineration.
Until copy OF the mysterious lost let
ter to the White House is found, Com
missioner Rudolph and Commissioner
Johnston will content themselves with the
statement made public last night, which
says that there is no ground for the
charge made on the floor of the House by
Representative Bennett II that letter
gives any specific instances wherein the
present triennial assessment of real
estate is represented as showing fiagrant
discrimination In favor of the rich, the
Commissioners will doubtless take W.
these charges i'm detail.
As to the charge made by Representa-
tive Bennett that +. NJ. Taicott, recently
appointed member of the board OF as
sistant assessors, Is mot qualified" under
the statutes. the Commissioners. the five
members OF the board of assistant as
SCISSORS and every one else at the District
building are frankly at a loss TO under
stand wherein the ineligibility lies. Mr.
Talcott became a member OF the board OF
assistant assessors several months ago.
after E. G. Davis died
Appointed Under the Law.
1t is explained at the District building
that section = of public act No. l3A.
which created the board. says
That the Commissioners Of the District
of Columbia shall appoint five discreet
persons, who shall have been bona dds
residents Of the District Of Columbia for
the period of at least five years, and con-
versant with real estate values therein, as
permanent board OF assistant assessorS''
Assessor Richards recommended MIR.
Talcott for the board. He explained today
that Mr.. Talcott had been a bona ido
resident OF the District since he was eight
months old, that he 10 discreet and that
In his work In the street extension depart
ment of the District government he had
done more real estate work than en-
gineering.
Mr.. Talcott told q Star reporter today
that he had been q close student of real
estate values while In charge OF street
extensions. and had bought for the Dis
trict not less than a hundred thousand
dollars worth Of property every year for
five years.
1T was necessary for me to cover a
wide range Of ground In this street ox-
tension work." he said, land owing TO the
formation about real estate values in
every part OF the District which was
never divulged to other officials.
The reports that went to Congress
for many years were full Of real estate
figures compiled by me.
I'm locating school sites and engine
mouse sites IL was necessary for me
to find the value of real estate i'm a
the site of the present engine company
No. on 18th street above G street, [
got the values Of all property for sew
eral blocks north and SOUTH east and
Gated.
From conversations held with vari-
GUS officials connected with the Dis
trict government 1t can be positively
absolutely that no flaw can be found
in the appointment OF Mr.. Talcott
<Feeney Assisted Republicans.
Mr. Feeney's connection with the
Bennet charges dates back to the ad-
ministration of Commissioners Mac
farland and West. During the last
presidential campaign Representative
Bennet had charge OF speakers for the
republican party. MIR. Feeney. who
had been considered democrat be-
came connected with the republican
speakers bureau and did much work
among the labor unions.
Shortly after President Taft was in
augurated Commissioner West began TO
feel pressure brought to bear upon him
to give Mr.. Feeney place in the Dis
trict government Mr.. West has verified
that statement since his resignation as
Commissioner However, Commissioner
West refused To make the appointment.
or found that he had no office for Mr.
Feeney
/ The first that was heard from Mr.
Feeney after Commissioners Rudolph and
Johnston took office was shortly after the
death of f. G. Davis which left q pla CO
vacant on the board of assistant as
SCISSORS The District building became the
daily rend1sYous OF the indorsers OF
nearly twenty candidates for the place.
but NJ. Feerey's name rarely, If ever
was heard. His influence to secure the
vacant place came from political sources
The Commissioners were very much
adverse to making an appointment which
would seem to be federal" one and
the assessor refused TO recommend MI
Feeney on the ground that he did not
know anything about real estate. The
protests against Mr.. Feeney became very
warm. One day Mr.. Feeney said to sew
erai persons in the District building that.
seeing such was the case. he would with
draw from the race. Meantime the Com
missoners. who had no intention OF go
ing outside the District building for their
appointee. were worrying over whether
Mr. Talcott or Benjamin Adams, then
Mr. Richards right hand man. should
be placed on the permanent board, and
Mr. Talcott, getting a shade the better
I'm the qualifications, was appointed.
Taft Mentions Feeney's Name.
After the death of Francis Nye. men,
ber of that board the placing OF Mr..
Adams in Mr.. Nye's seat at the board ta-
BILE was a cut and dried affair. There Was
nothing else thought of, but on the very
morning Of his appointment Commissioner
Rudolph is said 10 have received letter
from the President, in which Mr. Fee
news name was mentioned in a general
manner.
Commissioner Rudolph said To his asso-
ciates at that time that he had considered
Mr. Feeney out of the race. At any rate.
Mr. Adams was appointed without any
other candidate coming within reaching
distance of the place.
Assessor Richards and members OF ths
board of assistant assessors will not talk
for publication about the Bennett charges.
The present triennial assessment started
in 1908 and was finished this year. One