The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-03
D. c. BUDGET
MAGISTRATES
EARLY CHOICE
FOR VACANCY
By BILL PRICE.

by DILL r hAOE.
The District Commissionership did
not appear today to be on the White
House map, except in the arrival at
the Executive Ofices Of mails con-
tanning letters and recommendation
in behalf Of the various candidates.
II the President has the vacancy
on his mind SO far as filing it with
in the next few days is concerned, no
mixing came from his Office.
Speedy Action Essential.
That the necessities OF the situation
at the District building require the
early filling of the vacancy the
President may or may not know, but Il
Is generally hoped there he will act
soon. 1t is the custom Of the Commis-
sioneFs tosbegin consideration OF Dia-
trict estimates to Congress on Sep
TENDER IS. the law requiring that
these estimates shall be in the hands
OF the Secretary OF the Treasury on
October IS for consideration before
submission. to Congress at the opening
OF the regular session in December.
Up TO September is there win be
placed before the Board OF Commits
sioners the recommendation OF the
various branches Of the municipal
needs for the next fiscal year. togeth-
er with the recommendations Of citi-
zens' associations as to different i'm
provements desired
New ComnissIoner Needed.
nation must be confirmed BY the
Senate. ought to be ready to enter
into the work OF preparing the esti-
mates.
OF equal Importance Is the taking
up within a few monahs OF valuation
of certain public utilities by the
Utilities Commission, Of which all the
District Commissioners are members
Commissioner Brownlow is the only
Commissioner who sat in the hear
ings on public utilities- General
knight, the new engineer Commits
sioner. and Major Newman's success
sor will both have 20 go fully into
this subject before final decisions OF
the Utilities Commission are rendered.
An agreement has practically been
reached with the street railway and
telephone companies by which the
enormous work OF rehearingy win be
prevented. the new Commissioners
simply to go over the testimony here
tofore presented and such additional
testimony and argument as may be
agreed upon
Interest in the ComfnissionershIp
contest had not tagged today among
generally and the followers
Of the respective candidates. Plenty
OF gossip Is on the rounds.
Does Not Vote In Texas.
Some Of the opponents Of Ben
Primo. who apparently has the inside
track for Commissioner, have started
reports that he cannot fairly claim
in the District, having
voted recently in Texas.
well. Weir" said Mr.. Prince to-
day. II had believed 1 was a pretty
good District man up to this time.
having lived here more than ten
years Now. since think of IL. I did
vote in Texas in 1908. nine years ago.
and. falling to go back there to vote
in 1910. 1 became ineligible can
not conceive of many people promot-
ing this story, as my relations with
prominent business men here for
number of years enable them to dis
pose OF non-residenee talk.
Peyser for District Suffrage.
Julius Peyser's frankness in speak
ing through The Times concerning
Important things he believes should Be
for the District. has
added new interest to the Commits
situation. In view of the fact
that he Is well up toward the top Of
the list from which the President IL
likely to make his choice.
Mr.. Peyser has been Q strong adj
yocate of suffrage for a number Of
years. Before the Joint Congression-
IL committee investigating the rela-
lions between the Federal and Dis
trict governments. In 1915. Mr.. Pey-
ser told the committee he believed
The heads OF the District government
should be elected by the people. II
Congress did not care to 90 this Tar
1t the beginning. he suggested an ao- .
gisory referendum as one method OF
giving the people an expression OF
their wishes.
Mr.. Peyser declared to the commit
tee that he saw no reason why the
election of heads OF the District gov
eminent should disturb the long
standing relations between the Gem
eraI and District governments.
"a woman may be q daughter IN
her mothers home and yet mistress
In her own home Is the concise way
he puts It.
If Mr.. Peyser should be named
he will sacrifices much
in q business and professional way,
mis- friends declared today. He 10
president OF the Security Savings and
Bank, has q large law
practice, and IL identified with
number Of business enterprises. He
would sever his professional and
missioner.
GETS IRON CROSS. :