Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-31
DISTRICT BUILDING.

duty IN I'anama. from April 10. isVAs
to October /. 1906, Col. Harding was
assistant Engineer Commissioner of
the District of Columbia, going direct
from his local post to assist in the
construction of the Panama canal Re-
turning from the canal zone, he was
assistant engineer commissioner of
District March s. 1913. Altogether. he
has given more than seven years serv-
ice to the District of Columbia.
District officials and employees crowd
ed Col Harding's office today to bid
him farewell and wish him success in
his work at Panama. 1t Is foregone
conclusion in the Municipal building
that Col. Harding will succeed Col
Cocktails as governor of the canal
zone, and there is not a local official
or enploye who is familiar with his
work mere but believes he is the idea!
man tor the place
1t is doubtful if retiring public Of
fetal of any municipality ever was
paid more genuine tributes than those
expressed during the farewell lunch
con given in Col HardinE'S honor at
the Raleigh Hotel Thursday. In re
Spouse the Engineer Commissioner
stated that the guiding principle OF
his life has been to trust his fellow
man and that whatever success he
this fact. Unless an offic al has conf
dence in the men who work under him
that loyalty which is due him from his
subordinates cannot be had and the
served, he said. Col. Harding was
plainly affected by the tributes paid
him as a man and as an engineer, and
it was with difficulty that he re-
sponded.
Aside from its other impressive fea-
tures the Harding luncheon will be long
remembered because of the attractive
decorations. The committee on arrange
ments. consisting Of F. c. Lee. secre-
tary to Commissioner Harding; d. f.
Garges. Ben L. Prince and Conrad II.
Syme, had arranged an effective display
of chrysanthemums. roses and oak
leaves. and its artistic work. was the
subject of much admiration.
With Col Harding'c departure inter
est at the District building today CEN
tered in the arrival of his successor.
Maj. Charles W. Kutz. Earlier in the
week Mai. KutZ had called on the Dis
trict heads and when he appeared at the
Municipal building today he was ready
to take over the reins Of the engineer
department and get down to business.
Because of his work as engineer in
charge of local river and harbor inn
provements. Mai. Kutz is familiar with
conditions in Washington. and it is ex-
pected will prove an able successor to
Col Harding. He has some definite
to increase the capitals water supply
and there is every likelihood that he will
direct some important work along this
line before his term Of office expires
Just what member of the board OF
Commissioners will succeed Col. Hard
ing as chairman of the public utilities
commiss on has not been determined II
is considered probable that a Temporary
chairman VIII be chosen. and that the
commission will not be reorganized un-
til after the Senate has acted the
nomination of Commissioner Siddons to
the District Supreme Court bench
Should Louis Rrownlow newsnanern,an
be nominated to succeed Mr. Sidions
as Commissioner ii is more than nroh-
able that he will be chosen to head the
utilities board on account of the ex-
hanstive study he has made Of public
utility questions.
With the vacation season over and
the time for weekend na~tiAs about
gone. the Municipal building force has
settled down to the routine of winter
work. There are few dvad-in he
wool fishermen. such as NJ. J. Hale Of
the surveyors office. who slim away
every Saturday for dav's outing but
these trips are becoming less uumer-
ons. Jack Armstrong of the surveyors
ONCE continues his weekend trips TO
Baltlmore-somet he is ant to do
an w1nter-while Surveyor Melvin G.
Hazen has held the first of his winter
lev. near Nokesville. Va. Mr. Hazen
VIII entertain a number of hunting
parties at his farm in the near future
Frank J. Wagner. chief of the fro
department. who has been in New Or
leans inspecting motor-propelled fire
apparatus, returned this week The
local hre department is rapidly being
motorized and Chief Wagner finds IL
necessary to keep up on the latest inn
provements.
MISS NJ. {. Lillis, assistant to Supt
Sherman of the weights, measures and
markets department. who was confined
or illness. returned to her desk this
week.
BENJAMIN F. Harlan. chief clerk Of
the utilities board. is putting in long
hours these days Besides his duties az
the District building Mr.. Harlan 10
instructing three classes in commercial
law at the Business High School He
is graduate of the Washington Col
lege of Law.
Former Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner E. NJ. Markham, who is now en-
glneer officer in charge of river i'm
provements Oh the Mississippi river,
with headquarters at Memphis. Tenn,
was visitor to the District building
this week
Thomas II. Clafey. secretary to Com
missioner Newman. will leave Monda9-
for short trip to New York and New
Jersey. During his absence his place
will be filled by II. H. Ramsdell
Jack Gass. former foot ball star OF
Lehigh University. is busy this season
refereeing the big foot ball games in
this vicinity. Last Saturday he Off
ciated in the game at Annapolis. Mr..
Gass Is an assistant engineer of high
ways in the District service.
W. ]. Forsythe, in the surface divi-
sion of the engineer department. is
foot ball enthusiast. and with a party
will witness the game at Annapolis be-
tween the Navy and A. and NJ. of North
Carolina.
c. Z. Wager. computer in the high
way department, is on vacation visit
ing his family in Virginia
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