Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-01-12
APPOINTED TO HEAD UTILITIES
COMMISSION.

COMMISSION,
Gov. Crothers has appointed Mr.. PHILIP
d. Laird Chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission of this State, which is a de.
served promotion. He succeeds Mr. Amber
who has been appointed to Baltimore
judgeship. These gentlemen, with the aid
Of the third member, have executed the
important duties of the commission fol
nearly two years.
Mr.. Laird has resided in this county fol
a score of years and upward. Our citizens
are thoroughly acquainted with his ability
and manly character, and very naturally
his promotion gives general satisfaction.
knowledge of his worth was not limited
to the confines Of this county, Mr.. Amber
recommended the promotion of Mr.. Laird
when he resigned large numbers of promi-
nent citizens of Baltimore and of other
sections of the State asked for his eleva-
ton, and the press of Baltimore city COM
mends Gov. Crothers' action in the matter.
Governor Crothers, for the recognition
you have given one of her sons and the
unparalleled administration for excellence
that you have given the entire State, on
the part of the local Democracy we take
advantage Of this opportunity to acknowl-
edge her Indebtedness to you and express
her wish that your future days may be
full Of sunshine
The Baltimore News, appreciative of Mr..
Laird's ability, says:
THE promotion of Philip d. Laird to
the Craftsmanship of the Public Utilities
Commission was so manifestly demanded
by the exigencies of the situation that
Governor Crothers would not receive par
ticular commentator for making the ap-
pointment if it were not that the DISPOSE
ton of public Office is so often governed
by other motives than concern for public
interests.
with Mr.. Ambler's retirement from the
Commission Mr.. Laird remained as the
working member of that body. His term
of Office would have expired in May and
unless Governor Goldsborough at that time
was prepared to deny his own party any
recognition at all on the Commission the
State would have lost Mr. Laird's services
and we should have had practically new
and inexperienced body to carry on the
important work Of regulating the public
service corporations of the State. There
would not have been any doubt what Gov.
Goldsborough's duty would have been in
the circumstances, but Governor Crothers
would have been subject to emphatic CEN
sure had he presented such an alternative
to his successor He has done what he
should have done and will receive public
appreciation for it"
The Baltimore Sun bestows praise upon
Mr.. Laird in the following editorial COM
ment on the promotion:
The announcement that Governor Croth-
ers has promoted Mr.. Philip d. Laird to
the Craftsmanship of the Public Service
Commission and has appointed Mr.. Benja-
min 7. Fendall to fill the vacancy caused
by Mr.. Laird's promotion. will be generally
well received. Mr.. Laird has proved him
self an intelligent, industrious and con-
scientious member of the commission, and
his experience and understanding of the
work were regarded as specially valuable
to the public. His term would have ex-
PRED in few months, but his promotion
tothe Craftsmanship of the commission gives
the State the benefit of his knowledge and
training at a time when a number of very
important cases are pending before that
body. A new chairman would have had
to familiarize himself with all the details
of these cases, all Of them embracing I'M
usually voluminous statements and testi-
mony. thus involving probably long delay
in their decision. The Governor s selection
Of Mr.. Laird for this important position
will be commended as wise and as in the
public interest"