Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-26
LOUIS BR0WNL0W'S
RESIGNATION GIVEN
EXECUTIVE ASSENT
Col. Easby-Smith Mentioned
to Succeed as D. C..
Commissioner.


the board of District Commissioners,
to take effect September Is.
Word of the acceptance reached Mr.
Brownlow in a letter from the Presi
dent received at the District building
this afternoon. The Presidents let
ter follows:
"Of course, l accept your resigna-
cause it is SO evidently your desire
that should do so. l hope that you
will find your new duties as stimu-
lating and well worth while as you
expect them to be-
Task for New Man.
Whoever is selected by President
Wilson to succeed Commissioner
Brownlow will step into office just in
time to meet one of the biggest tasks
that come before the city heads dur
ing the year-preparation of the es-
Inmates to Congress on which the
next District appropriation bill will
be based
Mr.. Brownlow has asked the Presi-
dent to relieve him from duty on
September Is, which is about the date
when the Commissioners usually be-
gin work on their estimates. The job
must be completed and the results
handed to the Secretary of the Treas
ury by October 15.
If the President acts in time to per-
nit Mr.. Brownlow to leave September
Is, his successor probably will have to
rely largely on the advice and judg--
ment of Col. Charles w. kutz, the re-
naming member of the board.
Mr.. Brownlow May Help.
1t is possible that Commissioner
Brownlow may help to prepare, be-
fore he leaves, the estimates for those
branches of the government which
have been under his supervision.
Although the head of each depart
ment prepares in detail list of the
items to be asked for. together with
the amounts allowed last year. the
Commissioners must go over these
figures and approve them before they
go to the Treasury Department..
Although rumorS continued to
spread today that various individuals
had been decided on by the President,
no announcement was made at the
White House. One official expressed
it as his belief that the President has
not yet taken up the question for
consideration.
Col. Easby-smith Discussed.
Col James s. Easily Smith, promi-
nent Washington attorney. who was
right-hand man to Gen. Crowder in
administration of the selective draft,
was mentioned today as strong pos
sibility for one Of the commissioner
ships.
Men of influence, who claim to have
the confidence of the White House.
be nominated and that he will accept
the position. They said that some
time ago overtures were made to him
by the White House, but that his
war work at that time was Of such inn
portance that Col. Easily Smith felt
he could not relinQuish it.
He is one of the best known at
torneys in Washington and has al
ways been active in civic affairs. His
appointment would meet with general
approval, as was indicated in confer
ences of leading business and pro-
fessional men when it was rumored
that his appointment seemed assured
if he cared to accept the post
Col Easby-Smith served with the
Department of Justice for more than
eleven years. He went in as an ex-
aminer July 1, 1893, and resigned in
don attorney in 1899 and served in
that capacity for five years.
Others Mentioned.
Among other names added to the
list of candidates today was that of
William D. Barry, a retired business
man and vice president of the United
States Savings Bank. Mr.. Barry is
being put forward Dy 1flendS.
Although William NICK. Clayton of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
wrote to the White House several
months ago, stating that he was not
candidate for the office left vacant by
Commissioner Gardiner, his name has
been sent to the White House by the
Brookland Citizens Association.
Robert N. Harper, president of the
District National Bank and head of the
Chamber of Commerce, said today that
while he did not like to be put in the
position of declining a position which
has not been offered him, his business
activities would not permit him to ac-
cept an appointment.
There is still much speculation as to
whether the President will fill one or
both of the vacancies at this time