The Washington times., 1920-09-12
NEW D.C.HEAD
TOMAKEG GOOD
Miss Boardman's Appointment
to Commissionership Proves
Popular With Citizens.

Miss Mabel T. Boardmsn. who has
er, will make a very good government
Ioffical is the general verdict in
Washington. In past years, when
lthe President appointed a man to the
District government, the question
Iuppermost in the minds of the people
was "what sort of Commissioner
will he maker" In the case of Miss
Boardman, probably on account of her
long service with the Red Cross here,
it seems to be taken for granted that
she will make an admirable official
for Washington.
Miss Boardman, when the work of
the Board of Commissioners is divid-
ed up, probably will get the civic bet
terment bureaus of the local govern
ment to supervise. She has always
been active in this kind of work dur
ing her twenty years with the Red
Cross, and she is well fitted to assume
control of these agencies of the city
government, 1t is said.
QUESTION OF QUORUM.
Officials Of the District government
are inclined to think that the fact
that Miss Boardman will not arrive
here until December "a will not make
any difference with the running of
District affairs. The law creating the
commission form of government for
the District provides that two men,
bers shall constitute a quorum to do
business. Brownlow leaves Septem-
ber 10 and the District will be left
with only one Commissioner, Colonel
Kutz, Engineer Commissioner, and
therefore will not meet the require
ments OF the law.
1t was pointed out by officials that
of the District was not able to func-
tion during the time between Brown
lows leaving and the beginning of
the work by Miss Boardman, II would
not be able to function now, as Com
missioner Kutz is away on a vaca-
tion and Commissioner Brownlow is
the only member of the board in the
city ,- ..
Miss Boardman's first duty will be
to handle the estimates for the run
ming of the District government for
the fiscal year. 1921. This has to be
done by October Is, according to law.
and officials at the District build
ing say Miss Boardman will have a
very busy next four weeks. 1t prob
ably will be a week or two, they say.
before she becomes familiar with
the routine work of the government,
and then she will have to devote all
her time to the estimates. The work
OF getting up the estimates it is said
should not be hard for her as she
has for many years been working out
financial problems for the Red Cross.
ANOTHER VACANCY.
with the appointment of Miss
Boardman. there Is still one vacancy
on the Board of Commissioners, and
speculation is rife as 10 who will he
appointed II has not been definitely
learned yet whether Miss Boardman
succeeds Commissioner Brownlow or
fills the vacancy caused by the resig-
nation OF Commissioner Gardiner. II
Is supposed that she has been ap.
pointed TO the vacany caused by Mr..
Gardiner. but there Is no foundation
for this except that Miss Boardman
Is a wealthy woman and could AFFORD
20 work without pay until the Senate
confirms her nomination when IL is
sent to that body In December. On
account of the Senate falling to con-
firm the nomination OF DR.. John Van.
Schaick, jr., for Commissioner Gardi-
ner's place. the appointee TO succeed
him will not draw salary until he has
been confirmed by the Senate The
nominee to succeed Commissioner
Brownlow will receive salary, because
the vacancy was caused during a re-
cess of Congress. However. " the
nominee 10 succeed Mr., Brownlow Is
viii then cease.
II is supposed that a Democrat will
he named to succeed Commissioner
Hrownlow, as the position will draw
g salary.