The Washington times., 1917-08-18
JOHNSONPUTS
COMMISSION
JOBHUNTERS
INNEWPAN|C
By BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
There was genuine uneasiness to-
day in the camps of the various can
didates for the vacant District Com
missionership over the fact that Rep
resentative Ben johnson of Ken
lucky, chairman of the House Dis
trict Committee, is to see President
Wilson next week. The date for his
conference had not been arranged
at the White House, but the Presi-
dent himself will fix the time. Mr..
Johnson's letter asking an appoint
ment is before the President.
As the President expects to make
a nomination for the vacancy next
week he will probably see Mr.. John
son within the next three or four
days. Major Newman will leave
the Commissionership August %,
and report for army duty the next
day.
Estimates To Be Taken Up.
The estimates OF the Commission
ers for the next fiscal year are to be
taken up almost Immediately upon
the return OF Commissioner Brown
low to his desk next week, and it is
considered desirable that the new
Commissioner should be nominated
and sworn into office at the earliest
possible moment that Commission
Brownlow and Knight may have his
assistance in making up for Congress
the data as to what the District will
need in appropriations for the next
fiscal year.
With Mr.. Johnson running amuck
on the COmmissiOnership at the
White House, nobody today knew Just
what might happen. He has long
had an extensive list of District citi-
zens he Will be joyous to even up
scores with. The antagonism be-
tween Mr.. Johnson and prominent
local leaders are so widespread in
their ramihcations that no District
man, from dogcatcher to Commits
sioner, feels free from being on the
blacklist
Every Head n Mark.
That almost everybody's head may
get crack when Mr.. johnson talks
to the President was the unanimous
feeling today.
The presumption has been strong
that Ben l. Prince. having the back
ing Of Commissioners Newman and
Brownlow, will receive the plum and
be promoted from collector Of taxes
for the District to the highest local
place in the gift of the President.
IRE HFrWaT4 n 10 ~ TAI
objection to Mr.. Prince. The latter's
friends do not recall that the colIec-
tor has ever crossed wires with the
House chairman, and for that reason
they were sure today that Mr.. John
son will interpOse no objection to the
Prince nomination.
YET
And there hangs the dismal doubt
that hOvers in all directions.
Reports from the Capitol are that
Mr.. Johnson will make objections to
three or four Of the candidates whose
names have been mentioned. and that
he Is sure to dig the graves of
number OF aspiranjs.
As there are only seven or eight
men prominently in the race. half or
TaOre Of the number are doomed in
the event that Mr.. JohnsOn's influence
with the President overtops that OF
other men.
Next week will likewise see a de
cision whether Mr.. Johnson's sway
in District affairs is to exceed that
OF the District Commissioners and
Of District people generally The
President has almost uniformly
followed the advice Of Commission
ers Newman and Brownlow and
th"ir recommendation Of Ben
Prince is said to have been favora-
bly, received by him.
Candidates Who Await Fate
The candidates whose fates may or
May not hang upon Mr.. Johnson's smiles
or frowns are Ben L. Prince. backed g..
by the Commissioners William Mex.
Clayton, backed by many local organiza-
tons and prominent men; Charles w.
RAY. president Of the BriEhtwood Cit
liens Association; Frederick J. Rice.
president Of the Columbia Heights Cit
liens Association William y. Westlake,
president Of the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association: Julius Peyser,
backed by a justice Of the Supreme
Court. A Cabinet officer. and many
strong local leaders, with John J. Nc
Grath. president Of the Park View Cit
liens Association. and Charles ". Darr. .
OF the local bar. having peculiarly
strong inside backing.
Senator Pitmau has written Presi-'
dent Wilson a strong letter OF COM
mendation Of Clayton. setting forth
that Ny. Clayton's attitude in the
} eceHt street railway strike invcstiga-
tion by Senate committee impress
81 him and others with Mr.. Clayton's
wide knowledge OF District matters.
Should the fight get mudd!ed. with
the President unwilling TO pick a man
from the field before HIM. there will
be influences at work for John J. Cos
tello, Democratic national committee
man. and present recorder II decds
Mr.. COEjeIlo's salary as recorder Of
deeds is tempting enough. but he is
not unwilling To make change to
The cDmmissionersaip should the sit
uation set that way
There were suggestions today that
Mr. Johnson has sympathy with the |
aLJimcut OF citizens associations 81 .
Tie eastern part Of the District that /.
3 Commissioner should be named from I
that section. The Eaudlc Highlands I