Evening star., 1917-09-30
GARDINER Silent
ON HIS POLICIES
New Commissioner Stands Pat
on Brief Statement Made to
The Star.
HIS APPOINTMENT PRAISED

w Gwynn Gardiner nominated yester-
day by the President for District Com
missioner to succeed Maj. Oliver P. New
man, maintained silence regarding his
policies, standing pat" on the brief
statement he made for The Star yester-
day.
Though his appointment was a COM
plete surprise. it was received favorably
by professional and business men OF
Washington. A. Leftwch Sinclair, presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce. said:
THE President has given an alert,
energetic man, not afraid OF work"
The Presidents Personal Choice.
1t became known last evening that
Mr.. Gardiner was President Wilson's
personal choice for the office of Dis
trict Commissioner. His name pre-
viously had been before President Will
son when he was strongly urged for
the position of United States district
attorney. At that time he was opposed
by persons with whom he was engaged
in litigation. as opposing counsel.
These opponents later were convicted
of the charges for which they were in
dcted, and it is believed that the Pres
ident has had Mr.. Gardiner in mind
since that time. Both he and his father
have been active in democratic politics
in Maryland. though neither held any
public Office. At the time of his boom
for the district attorneyship he had q
strong backing among leading demo-
Gratis of Maryland.
Came to Washington in 1896.
Despite Mr. Gardeners birth and
early education in Maryland. he has
he came here to live in 1896. and his
appointment was favorably regarded
on that account 1t is understood that
the President desired to name man
who was independent of active con-
nection with any interests in WASH
ington, but who was well informed in
District affairs. Mr.. Gardiner was re-
garded as meeting those qualifications.
He is not a member of any trade
bodies, has taken no active part in any
factional contentious or mooted Ques-
tions locally, yet he has a wide ac-
quaintance among Washington busi-
ness men, and has shown a broad COM
munity spirit in his efforts for legal
decisions and Legislative enactments in
the line which constituted a specially
of his practice, insurance law. Mr..
Gardeners statement-'1 am under OH
legations TO no one'-waS taken to
mean that he did not feel that he owed
his appointment to any individual or
interests.
Mr.. Gardner is acquainted with Repre-
sentative Ben Johnson, chairman Of the
.-ouse District committee, but Mr.. John
son is understood to have taken no ac-
tive part in urging his appointment
though he regarded him favorably. Mr..
Gardiner stated yesterday he had not
communicated with Mr.. Johnson for
some time. Representative johnson has
been an advocate of reforms in insur-
ance legislation along the lines upon
which Mr.. Gardiner has worked, and his
attention was first attracted to the
Washington attorney on that account.
Brownlow May Head Board.
Commissioner Brownlow. who. until q
few weeks ago. was the youngest mem
Der in point of service of the board OF
District executives and who became the
senior member with the departure OF
former Commissioners Newman ana
Kutz. in all probability will be elected
president of the board at the organiza-
tion meeting. which will follow the
swearing in of w. Gwynn Gardiner az
successor to Maj. Newman.
1t has been customary for the presi-
dent of the board to exercise immedi-
ate supervision over the Office of the
assessor, tax collector and other desig.
mated branches of the municipal gov
ernment- If Mr.. Brownlow is chosen
for the presidency il is expected he
will take over these offices. leaving
the administ ration of the police. fire.
health, insurance and other depart-
ments to the immediate direction OF
Mr.. Gardiner.
While this plan is the one that would
be followed normally. il will be particular
~ appropriate in the present instance. il
was pointed out last night. for the reason
that Mr.. Gardiner will have direction OF
departments in which his knowledge and
experience a lawyer will be particu-
larly useful. In the police and health de-
partments especially. administrative mat
terS that hinge on legal problems are de-
veloping- constantly. Mr.. Gardiners IA
military with local insurance conditions
and insurance laws will make il possible
for him to efficiently administer the af-
fairs of the insurance department, in the
opinion of District officials.
Gardiner First Lawyer Member.
Mr. GARDENERS legal knowledge also
viii make him particularly useful
member of the public utilities commis>
sion. which has some big work aheap
of it next month in winding up the
street railway valuations. At no time
since the commission has been in ex.
istence has it possessed a lawyer mentr
ber. although it has had the legal adj
vice and services since its organize
tion of Conrad Syme, the District cor-
poration counsel.
While the appointment of Gardiner
came a distinct surprise to every on6
in the District building, it was the con-
SenSuS of opinion last night that no
would be confirmed without delay. Thb
new appointee is well known to many
officials and employees of the local gov
ernment. by whom he is held in high
esteem and who predict that his adj
miniStration will be satisfactory ono
from the puolic's point of view. 1t IL
not considered probable that Nj
Gardiner can be confirmed and sworn IN
in time to do very much work on the
estimates for the needs of the District
during the next fiscal year. as Conf
miSsionerS BrownloW and knight al
ready haze made Gnife a start or, fk,.