The Washington herald., 1913-11-24

While politics has hardly figured in the
selection Of Interstate Commerce Com
missioners, the politicians are active
enough when three vacancies are to be
filled by a Democratic President. and
several eminent statesmen on Capitol
Hill are softly intihating that their
States are entitled to some measure Of
recognition.
There was a good deal OF sentiment
In the selection Of ex-senator CockreU,
who had been a member In other days,
and has had more political experience
than any one now on the commission.
Next him, IN point of political experience,
is Judson c. Clements, who went through
the usual procedure in Georgia, as men,
Der OF the legislst ture, and then came
to Congress for five terms, concluding
twenty-five years ago. Judge Clements
has had long service on the commits
sion. and is yet three years under the
seventy mark, while his new colleague,
Cockrell, is mighty close to four score.
Judge McChord. of Kentucky, "a COM
paratively new member OF the commits
sion. figured at home chiefly as a mighty
good lawyer, and enjoyed the diversion
of a few terms IN the legislature where
he gave special attention to the enact
| tions.
Judge McChord and Clements were the
two members with real political records
prior to the Cockrell return and there is
wonder OF the present administration will
give one or more OF the three coming ap-
pointments to the politicians. Away back
In the early days OF the commission Will
lam r. Morrison. of Illinois, long a MEM
Der of Congress and chairman Of Ways
2 nj int A1 har
when his Congressional service concluded,
and he was continued by a Republican
President
The commission had but three mem
oers then and was just starting out to
give the railroads a modest lacking up.
The work and power of the commits
sion has grown wonderfully and has
given the railroads. also Congress, much
to think about since the almost expert
mental proposition OF twenty-five years
ago.
Usually lawyers and judges are pre-
ferred for appointments to the Interstate
Court, but the Hon. Jefferson Levy. Rep
resentative from a big New York City
district came down last night to urge
the appointment OF a practical railroad
man.
The Levy contention. as he expects 10
put 1t before the President. is that some
member ought to have technical knowl-
edge OF railroads, and their operation.
IL was remarked to the distinguished
Congressman that railroad manager
big enough to be chosen for a place on
she commission would be big enough 'tc
command three times the government
salary as head OF a railroad company.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
members receive $4,000 a year. and the
modern railroad president would sniff
the air with scOrn at such a stipend IN
these days Of expensive living. This
| suggestion did not bother the Hon. JEFF
ferson Levy, who insisted that there
were patriots among railroad managers,
who would accept the smaller salary in
order to do the country good. but as yet
the New York statesman has not given
the name and address of such a self
sacrificing patriot as he describes.
The additional and lamented vacancy
in the Interstate Commerce Commission
men who have sought the appointment
OF Judge II. T. Mathers, citizen of
Sidney, and for some time on the COM
mon pleas bench. The legal ability. rather
than the political prominence or activity
OF Judge Mathers. has given push to the
demand for his selection, and since as
SumlnE judicial functions he has Kept
resolutely from the political entangle-
ments OF his State or section. He is
Democrat. and comes from a district
very much inclined to the Democratic
proposition, even in years when other
parts OF the State are a trihe Indifferent
to the faith. The politicians who are
backing Judge Mathers, including the one
Democratic Senator. are discreetly silent
as to his political qualifications or past
performances They are intent only on
proclaiming his general fitness for the
job. and add covertly that il is possibly
time to give his section some recognition
in return for its overwhelming Demo-
cratic majority of last November. How
ever much the Ohio Democrat admires
this legal ability of A constituent, the
political proposition is never overlooked.
Also il is urged that Ohio has never been
given a place on the Interstate Com
merce Commission, and is entitled to it
during an era of Democratic domina-
tion.
Albert jeremiah Hopkins private Citi-
zen, but steadfast in the real Republi-
can faith Joined old friends in the Will
lard Way last night looking so young
and vigorous that some were bold
enough TO ask his age and others how
he did ii Anyhow, It was hard to real
ize that the Hon. Albert had been out
of the Senate nearly five years. With
eighteen years unbroken service in the
House and a full Senatorial term, he had
given two dozen years of his life to