The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-15
WANT EAST
WASHINGTON
MAN PUT ON
COMMISSION
Randle Highlands Citizens Ad-
dress Recommendation to
President-Ben Prince Still
Apparent Newman Successor
By BILL PRICE.

the Randle Highlands Citizens As
ISOLATION a recommendation that the
vacancy in the Board of Commission
ers. created by the resignation OF
Major Newman, be filled by the NOM
nation of q citizen who Is a resident
Of the section OF the District east OF
the Capitol
The attitude of the association,
which is representative generally OF
sentiment in what IL known as
East washington"-all that portion
east OF North and South Capitol
streets-Is based entirely upon the
view that a representative Of that
section upon the board would be per
sonally acquainted with the needs Of
the people.
The feeling In behalf Of represen-
tation for east Washington has been
deeply grounded for many years and
at one time. the various citizens as
sociations were prepared to make a
hard night for their views at the
White House. The administration of
District affairs; under Commissioners
Newman and Brownlow and broad
minded engineer commissioners as
ISOLATED with them, has considerably
lessened the insistence OF east wash
ingtonians, inasmuch as their section
Of the District has received recogni-
ton never before accorded. To the
minds of a great many leaders there
has been an absolutely fair distribu.
ton of improvements throughout the
District and none Of the discrimina-
ton alleged to have been made. prior
to this administration.
1t was never charged that the al
legged discrimination was intentional
but the disgruntlement was founded
upon the idea that with Commission
ers invariably named from northwest
Washington the atmosphere OF the
District building would naturally be
favorable to large Improvement APP
propriations for that section and for
getfulness Of the needs Of other sec
tons
The Randle Highlands Association
does not propose to ten President
any candidate for the vacancy, being
content to put forward the project Of
representation. Commissionership ma
terial In east Washington Is plentiful,
however, there being dozens of men
who have for years been prominently
Identified with the Districts progress
and taken an active part in the ques-
tions coming up for solution. Among
these are D. A Edwards, of the Lin
coin Park Citizens Association. for
mer president OF the Federation Of
Citizens Associations; DR.. J. A. Wat
son, of the Anacostia Association: Dr.
Emmons Smith, OF the East Washing
ton Association: the veteran president
of the Northeast Association, Evan
II. Tucker; A. G. Hermann, OF the
Southeast Association, and Col. A. F.
Randle, the father of at least two OF
Washington's best known suburbs.
Newman Sees President Tomorrow.
Major Newman is to see President
Wilson tomorrow afternoon, and the
vacancy may be settled at that con-
ference. All indications still point to
Ben Prince, collector OF taxes. a. the
man who will be selected by the
President The trend Of things con-
tinues that way. and Major Newman's
visit will not. It is known, interfere
with the trend. The President does
not desire to go into the details OF
a night for the place. He has no
time for that. and his course is ex-
pected to be prompt acceptance OF
recommendations made to him by
men he looks to for advice as to
District appointments. with the
backing he has, Mr.. Princes support
ers now see nothing in the way OF
his selection.
Friends OF DR.. John Van Schaick.
jr., president OF the Board OF Educa-
ton, may conclude to present his
name to the White House. DR.. Van
Schaick Is now in France on a mis-
sion for the Red Cross and Is not
cognizant OF what is being done in his
behalf.
johnson May Take Hand.
Representative Zen johnson, chair
man Of the House Committee on Dis
trict Affairs. has not taken a hand in
the hght 20 this time, but reports
represent him as keeping an eagle
eye on the situation for the purpose
OF dipping In at the right moment to
favor or oppose. He has no appoint
ment to see President Wilson and Is
discreetly silent as to whether he has
written Mr.. Wilson about the Com
missionership.
Mr.. johnson has taken up much OF
President Wilson's time in the last
four years offering advice about Dis
trict matters. II was upon the sug-
gestion Of Mr.. johnson that the Pres
ident recently began signing all
State papers Done in the District OF
Columbia" instead OF Done at the
city OF Washington" Mr.. Johnson
told the President that there Is no
legal CITY OF Washington" his in
depreciation OF existing laws on this
subject being at variance with all
other authorities.
studying all laws, reached an en-
tIreIy opposite conclusion to that OF
Mr. johnson, but they have never
taken the matter up with the Presi-
dent. assuming that having made the
change in administration phraSeology
he will not again dignity the matter
by returning to the CORNER words.
II Mr. johnson should get into the
commisslonership hght he might
muddIe the waters considerably, IL
was said today.
Around the District building today
rumOr was strong that Daniel ].
Donovan. chief clerk to the Commits
sioners. will succeed Mr.. Prince as
Collector of Taxes. Friends OF c. NJ.
Towers, The deputy collector, are
equally certain that Mr.. Towers will
be promoted to the collectoTship.