The Washington times., 1919-08-12
PRESIDENT TO
PICKD.G.HEAD
soon, IS VIEW
Naming of GardineF's Successor
and Police Department Probe
Expected in Near Future.

Definite Developments eoneerning
administration % the District, ineIud-
ing the proposed investigates of tie
metropolitan police system By .
House committee. are due 70 come
within the next ten days as . result
OF the assidulty OF those concerned,
despite the fact that their activities
are rather secret in nature.
Whether. the situation 10 IN such
shape as TO cause the President 70
nominate q successor TO Commissioners
W. Qwynn Gardner, whose term has
expired, before he leaves on IN tour
OF the country. in eonjeetufal How
ever, the President u anxious TO set
District municipal affairs IN q settled
state as soon as possible Ter the good
OF the community. and may move
Summariiy to that end earlier than
q now expected.
All doubt about the attitude Of Ma
tor o. P. Newman, who resigned e.
District Commissioner 70 enter the
army. was removed today when he de-
clared in most emphatic terms that
under no consideration would he &C
cept a nomination, and furthermore.
that at no time has he been q candl-
date IN any sense.
Major Newman said that he wOuld
receive his discharge from the army
on August 10 and would. immediate
" accept q position with . New York
banking institution, dividing bis time
between New York and Washingtop.
He was not ready 70 make further
announcement about his plans. but
said all arrangements had been made
for him to enter business.
Al
speculation over the position OF Com.
missioner Gardiner, but the fact that
he has not sought a reappeintment
despite the opportunities OF his many
friends, including prominent wash
ingtonians and public officials stands
out as certain.
Il Is no secret that there HAD BEEN
| decided disbursements between COM
missioner Gardiner aud his colleagues
over different policies and Official
acts during the past year, particu-
larry in regard to some police mat
J ters, but inasmuch as Commissioner
BroWnlow Is vested with the respon-
ability OF that phase OF the admin
| istration, Mr.. Gardiner has thus far
been loath to make any criticism that
could be construed as indicating a
lack OF harmony. Nevertheless. those
in close touch with the situation are
aware that there Is an absence Of con-
geniality or compatibility among the
three board members.
Gossip at the Capitol % to the ef-
feet that Commissioner Gardiner viii
be summoned by the House commit
tee that win make an investigation Of
the police system, as II u understood
that he has not eountenanced certain
conditions nor approved Of polieiels
that have provoked the most criti-
cism. Mr.. GARDENERS friends assert
that he Is aVerse to such course. but
he will have no alternative than 70
testify IL the committee summoAs
him.
Commissioner Gardiner has no ap-
pointment to confer with President
Wilson nor has he sought one, but u
il likely that Senators and Congress-
men among his many friends At the
Capitol will have something to say
soon.
Mr.. Gardiner has indicated himsslf
| that he, too. viii shortly have some
| thing In the way Of = statement 70
make, but until then Is anxious 70
| keep without the 1oEe Of publicity.