Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-28
FIGHT ON NNEWMAN
TAKEN TO SENATE
Protest Filed Alleging He Is In
eligible to Be District
Commissioner.

Protesting against the confirmation
of Oliver P. Newman as District Com
missioner on the ground that he has
not been a bona fide resident of the
District for three years. as required
by law, group of democratic tax
payers today filed an appeal with the
Senate District committee to grant a
public hearing before taking any ac-
ton on Mr.. Newman's nomination by
the President
At the same time announcement was
made that mass meeting of taxpay-
ers will be held Monday night at the
Old Masonic Temple to consider the
nomination of Mr.. Newman. w. j.
Neale, a member of several democratic
organizations and secretary of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
who is heading the movement. said
that a number of prominent men will
speak at this meeting.
Chairman Smith Out of City.
Senator Smith of Maryland. chairman OF
the Senate District committee. was ou,
of the city today, and therefore it was not
known whether the request for d hearing
on Mr. NeWmans nomination would be
granted
The appeal sent to the Senate Distric,
committee today was signed by W. J.
Neale. John Campbell, f. G. Brown, j
uel w. Cockrell and j. y. England The
appeal stated that a further protest
would be forwarded to the committee no
later than next Tuesday, and asked de
lay until that time.
AS a basis for the protest. the appea
sets forth that the petitioners did not be
lieve that Mr.. Newman was eligible fol
the position of District COMMISSIONS
under the terms of section 10 of the &C
of June IL, 1878, which is as follows:
Language of tue Law.
/ The two persons appointed from
/ civil life shall at the time of their
\ appointment, be citizens of the Unite
4 States. and shall have been actual resi-
dents Of the District of Columbia for
! three years next before their appoint
ment, and have. during that period
claimed residence nowhere else"
! Mr.. Neale stated today that the pro
test was not being made on the score
of politics, and that he was not taking
part In ii as democrat IT is entirely
citizens and taxpayers movement
he declared
'The question is whether the resi-
dtnts cf the District are to allow a non
taxpayer, man VINO is practically q
stranger 10 the great ina ajority of the
people, and who is technically unauali-
fed 10 hold the position. to become one
or the three District Commissioners.
said MIR. NeaIe
Mr. Neale stated that he and his fel-
low w-petitioncrS were ready to fight the
appointment in the courts if necessary
Inquiry as to Eligibility.
II has always been understood tina
| President Wilson carefully investigated
the question IF Mr.. Newman's eligibilit,
before making the appointment. and tina
the Attorney General gav4 him an opin
ion TO the effect that Mr. Newman's ap
pointment would be legal.
Ii is not expected that the Senate Dis
trict committee will consider the com
missionership appointments until lat
next week, after the democratic caucu
has finished the consideration of the tar
IF bill.
| Up To the present no protest has beel
made against the appointment of Fred
erick J.. Siddons the other civil Com
missioner, and the protest today is tn
only one filed against Mr.. Newman wit
the Senate committee.