The Washington times., 1919-11-25
". G. GARDINER RETRES
AS D. c. COMMISSIONER
Office Now Vacant as Official Re
slmes the Practice Of
Law Here.

Fl
(Ccntinued from First Page.)
was promptly confirmed by the SEN
ate and began his official duties
shortly afterward.
His commission was for the unex-
pired term of Major Newman, who
had entered the army at the begin
ming Of the war. The commission ex-
pired July. 13 last. UnUer the law
Mr.. Gardiner continued to serve legal
ly as Commissioner until his success
sor was nominated and confirmed or
his resignation accepted.
Since July 13 he has taken part In
important District matters either as
Commissioner or as q membtr of the
Public Utilities Commission. the utii-
tiles law providing that the three
District Commissioners shall COM
prise the public Utilities Commission.
The acceptance of Mr.. Gardeners
resignation indicates that the Pr. si-
dent is probably prepared to name a
successor upon the reasseml.ng OF
Congress. His action in relieving Mr..
Gardiner was because of the latter's
strong desire to leave official life.
While it would be legal to appoint
Commissioner until Congress met
and then send the name to the Sen
ate, the logic of the situation would
tion is made.
The Presidents choice, II already
made, has been kept well under cover
The man most talked Of has been the
Rev. John Van Schaick, chairman or
the Baord of Education, and well
known in Washington for his patri-
otic and public services. For many
years he has taken a deep interest in
local affairs. Shortly after the he
ginning of the war he went to France
and Belgium, representing the Red
Cross in an important capacity, and
knowledge of his fine work abroad
was impaired to the President. He
returned months after the armistice.
Many Good Prospects.
Mr.. Wilson has had a wide range
of fCommissionership material to Sc
Iect from. Many recommendations OF
local citizens are on file in the White
House and the President could not
well go wrong in a choice Of any of
them. So far as known the President
talked with only one committee OF
District citizens.
That was a committee from the
Federation Of CitizenS Associations,
of which he is now meroher
through his having signed member
ship card a few days ago in the
good citizenship drive going on by
that body. District citizens are all
proud Of "Citizen" Wilson. MEM
Der, with dues paid up. in the West
End Citizens Association.
Mr.. Gardiner took part in momen-
tous activities as a city father. OF a
nervous, active temperament himself
h.. gave to his official work close
personal attention from the view
point of his own individuality. This
cften resulted in dissenting opinions
n ON hfs fellow Commissioners either
on municipal matters or on utility
sUbjecs
AS lawyer he frequently ap-
preached the questions before him as
a lawyer would. especially scanning
the legal phases most minutely. His
analyses were usually from this
standpoint.
The differences of opinion caused
no personal ill-feeling among the
Commissioners. notwithstanding thai
Mr.. Gardiner many times stood
seainst the other two Commissioners
when their official opinions Or deci-
-io MS were not unanimous. MIR. Gar
diner was perfectly willing to "go
tc the ma" with his colleagues and
did 20 often enough to give an i'm
pr6 aston that the board WIS not as
harmonious as II should be. The
differences. however. were friendly
and NJ untoward results to the Dis
trfct followed.