Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-16
FAVORS SEPARATE
D. c. CIVIL SERVICE
President Makes Attitude
Known in Conference With
Commissioners.
WILL PRESENT MEDAL
TO WASHINGTON GIRL
Accepts Invitation to Attend D. A.
r. Celebration in Memorial Con-
tinental Hall February n.

President Wilson and the Com
missioners of the District of Co.
lumbia favor legislation at this
session of Congress placing en-
ployes OF the District under an
independent civil service.
Although the President has not
gone SO far as to commit himself
to details OF the proposed legisla-
ton, he is known to be friendly to
a bill that will meet the approval
Of the Commissioners.
The President today had a
conference with Commissioners
Brownlow and Kutz about Dis
trict matters in Congress, and the
subject OF civil service was the
main topic discussed.
Oppose Tinkham Bill.
There is now before the Commission
ers bill introduced by Representative
Tinkham of Massachusetts placing en-
ployes of the District under the fed
eral civil service and subjecting them
to the same requirements as are now
imposed upon applicants for position
ment. This bill. it is understood. does
not meet with the approval of the
commissioners, who favor bill ere
ating separate civil service for the
District. and they expect that a bill of
that kind will shortly be presented to
| them, as several members of the Dis
trict committee of the House are at
work upon such a bill. Representative
Ben johnson. chairman of the District
committee, is said to favor a District
civil service law
The Commissioners have found it is
said, that the opportunities for appoint
ments in the District government
waste much valuable time. and they
want to be free of the job of selecting
appointees from a multitude of candi-
dates backed by people Of influence.
political and otherwise. They feet it
is said, that they can look after the fn-t
ferests much better IL appointments
are made from eligible lists before
them ee-t
Undecided on Residence Qualification
The Commissioners have not reached
| the point Of passing upon the provisions
OF the proposed law. They do not vet
| know whether they Will favor a section
providing that all appointees shall be
from the District. Their experience has
been. 1t is intimated, that such a nro.
VISION might work well as to strictly
clerical and subclericaI positions. but
| they would want the right occasionally
| 20 procure experts from any state.
ION. 1t is said. that Congress is like
/ iy to pass a civil service law before
| this session closes.
Ihe Presidents approval of civil
service law for the District has been
taken for granted for some time He
has not interfered in District appoint
| ments. but he has frequently been ask
ed to use his power TO induce the Com
| missioners to make appointments in
that establishment. During the fight
over superintendent of police he was
called upon number of times by
congressman and others who had sug-
gestions and recommendations to
make. The opportunities became OBJ
noxious to him. The same thing has
been true as to minor appointments
Will Wait on Congress.
The President has been perfectly
willing that Congress shall turn over
to the District Commissioners the ap-
pointment of a recorder of deeds of
the District. and it IS understood that
he will do nothing about filling the
place himself pending the outcome of
the legislation now before Congress.
He is satisfied with the provisions OF
the bill that a local man only shall
be named to the place
President Wilson today accepted an
| invitation to deliver medal to
Washington girl at the joint patriotic
celebration in Memorial Continental
Hall at 1890 o'clock February o. This
celebration, conducted under the aus
pices of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. Sons of the American Rev
olution and Sons of the Revolution, is
expected to be q most interesting one,
| the central feature being the delivery
| to Miss Ina NJ. Lawrence of Anacostia
| of a beautiful medal for the best pa-
triotic essay written in a sharp con-
test among high school students of
the District.
Contest Narrowed Down.
Miss Lawrence is student at the
Eastern High School and the contest
was really between her and Walter 8.
Smoot of Central High School, who won
the medal last year. The subject of
Miss Lawrences winning essay is
Gen. Montgomery Campaign Against
Quebec" The committee appointed to
Invite the President consisted Of Com
mander John H. Moore. U. s. NJ; Col.
George Richards. U. S. NJ. c.; w. V.
Cox, Mrs F. F. Greenwalt, Mrs Vida
Tx. Clementson, Mrs. Lisle s. Lipscomb.
Col. John Van Hoff, Fred b. Owen and
Thomas S. Lockwood.
A committee of the National Associa-
ton of Life Underwriters, composed in
tlarge part Of lcading life underwriters
of the District, called on the President
| and invited him to attend the dinner
| to be given Thursday night, February
| "a, at the New Willard Hotel by the ex-
ecutive committee of the organization
| and the Southeastern Congress of Life
Underwriters. Those present at the
dinner will be among the foremost life
men of the country. II the
President cannot be present he will
probably write letter.
Suspended Banks First Dividend.
| PITTsBURGH; Pa. February 1s.-
The Pittsburgh Bank for Savings.
which was closed by the state depart