Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-04
"Matter of Public Policy
Only Intimation of Subject
Discussed.
COLLEAGUE CONFIDENT
OF NEWMAN'S SUCCESS
Believes Commissioner Will Con-
clusively Establish His Right
to Seat.

ticn was discussed between the Presi-
dent and himself this morning at a con-
ference at the White House To this ex-
tent Commissioner Sddons took the pub
1ic into his confidence. The Commits
sioner visited the White House alone for
the first time since he has held office.
Heretofore Commissioners Newman and
Siddons have been together in their calls
upon the President
That the subject of consideration was
a matter directly in his province in the
assignment of duties among the Commits
sioners, Commissioner Siddons would not
admit He was with the President for
about a half hour
While at the White House Commits
sioner Siddons told Of his confidence that
Commissioner Newman, while put on the
defensive. would establish conclusively
his legal right to Office before the court
taking the view that there could hardly
be two opinions on the subject This Is
believed to have been the subject Of his
conference with the President.
Acts Would Be Legal.
Should it be decided by any chance
that Mr.. Newman is ineligible to hold
the Office of Commissioner, in the opinion
of Commissioner Siddons, the fact will
not affect any act Of his while holding
the Office and exercising its duties. Com
missioner Siddons points out the distinc-
ton between an incumbent of office de
facto and de jure, and states that, in
event Of Mr.. Newman's disqualification,
his status at this time would be that
of a de facto Commissioner, and that all
interpretations of the law would hold
that his acts were perfectly legal while
exercising the duties of Office, disturbing
no legal status Of any official proceeding.
City Heads in Sympathy.
Commissioner Siddons was selected for
ofice at the suggestion Of his colleague,
Commissioner Newman, the President de-
string to have on the board two civil
Commissioners in entire sympathy and
who would work in accord. Should Mr..
relation would be severed to the destruc-
fion of the purpose of the President to
establish hayuaeaicus condition.
While Jackson II. Ralston Is counsel
ceedings to oust him from Office as nom
resident. Commissioner SiddOns, his close
friend, has also established himself as
the legal advocate of his colleague. He
spent all of yesterday behind closed doors
giving intimate study to the case.
He is supposed to have set before the
President his opinion, and the basis there
for, that Mr. Newman Is safe in his seat
determined in advance of the court hear
ing In the opinion Of Commissioner Sid
dons.
Raker Sees President.
To advance the interest of his candi-
date for United States attorney for the
district Of northern California, Repre-
sentative Raker of California obtained the
ear Of the President for a few moments
this morning.
He would not divulge the name Of the
man he Is advocating for the post The
President has all the data before him. he
said. but will not act for some time. as
far as he can forecast the presidential
purpose.
Assistant and Acting Secretary of War
Breckinridge introduced to the President
a fellow citizen Of the state of Kentucky.
Judge Robert Harding of Danville.
Adjt. Gen. Harris of the National
Guard of Arizona was presented by Sen
ator Ashurst of that state. Gen. Har-
ris exchanged few words with the
President regarding conditions on the bor-
der and gave assurance of the avallabil-
ity of the state organized militia for any
purpose to which 1t could be put in re-
leV1ng conditions.
President Invited to Richmond.
Mayor George Ainslie of Richmond,
a. with a delegation consisting of COM
mittees from the city council and from
The management of the Virginia state
fair. under escort of Senator Swanson,
Representative A. j. Montague, former
governor of the state and former Rep
reseptative Harry ST. George Tucker,
publicity agent of the fair, extended an
invitation this afternoon to the Presi-
dent to attend the fair, to be held in
Richmond. October to IL. The Presi-
dent expressed his interest. and a hope
that the state Of public business would
give him the opportunity to be present
lie emphasized his desire to be present.
Henry Fairfax, president of the fair
management headed the fair committee
His associates on the committee are
Worthington Spilman, Abraham War
wick. jr.. L. r. Page and Rev. DR.. Ed
ard NJ. Calish. Mr.. Page is brother
/ Thomas Nelson Page. ambassador to
Italy.
The committee from the council con-
sisted Of r. L Peters, president: C. H
Ratcline and George c. Ruskeil SER
geant-at-arms.
President Is Serenaded.
The Letter Carriers Band of Boston.
Mass, this afternoon serenaded Prest-
dent Wilson at the White House. The
party arrived in Washington this morn
ing After visiting Representative Cur
ley of Massachusetts they were intro
duced to Speaker Clark During the
course OF the day they visited a number
OF public buildings.
PERILS OF CHICAGO STREETS.