Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-03
3 VACANCIES ON
COMMERCE BODY
Railroad and Government Of
ficiaIS Watch With Interest
to See Who Wilson Names
BY w. s. MANN
Copyright, 1920. by The Washington
start

d W. -. MANN
Copyright, 1920, by The Washington
starr
WASHINGTON. April 30:-Rail-
road and administration officials are
watching with keen interest to see
who President Wilson viii pick for
the three positions vacant on the In
terstate Commerce Commission, the
powers and duties Of which were
greatly extended by the railroad &C
effective March I, and this has served
to direct attention to the difficulty
the President had had IN keeping the
membership filled on the various c d
eral boards and commissions during
the last year and a half.
From six TO fifteen such vacancies
have existed during all that time, in
spite Of numerous appointments
made by the chief executive and con-
frmed by the senate and at present
there are eight important appointive
positions open, for which the Salaries
run from $4,000 to $4,000. During
the war this condition did not exist,
for the services of the entire country
were practically at the disposal of
the President. But with the return
to the a status many of these
men have gone back to their private
business and the task of filling their
places has given the President much
concern.
The vacancies on the Interstate
Commerce Commission are the most
important now under consideration,
two of them having been caused by
the action of congress In increasing
the membership from nine to eleven.
The third vacancy has existed for
moro THAI a year, 10 successor haV-
ing been appointed 10 Commissioners
Harlan, whose term expired Decem-
Der 81, 1918. Applications for the
49, >. tgataVn arnlfVN nRA not lacking
FOR the act referred to increased the
salar from $4,000 to $4,000 per
year, out the position Is one that
calls for more than average expert
ence and ability.
Another position in tho $4,000 a
year class is that IN the Federal Re
serve Board, vacated as March BY
Albert Straus, who resigned because
Of the press of private interests. the
board membership includes five ap-
pointees named by the President, ana
Two ~ex-oficiO members who draw no
salary for their service on the board.
This position also requires speelal
ability, for the Federal Reserve
BOARD is the financial nerve center or
the oountrv. and when Frederick A.
Delano resigned in July. 1918, II was
sixteen months before President WI
son found q man to his fAtng VINO
would accept the position.
It is evident that PresideH wilson
sometimes sends nominations to the
senate without having received the
consent of the nominee to serve. A
few days ago he named former Sehe-
tor Theodore D.. Burton Of Ohio. TO
all one of the two vacant places on
the United States Tariff Commission
and 80 fearful was the former sena-
tor that the confirmation was going
through that he telegraphed to friends
in the senate and came to Washington
in person to make 1t plain he could
not serve. Accordingly,
ment was made at the White House
that the nomination would be with
drawn.
But four men arc now serving on
the tariff commission, which Is sup
posed to have a personnel OF six. DR..
r. w. Tausig resigned as chairman
10 go Into private business, and WI
liam Kent, former member OF the
House from California, later left the
commission to enter the campaign for
{ again. The commissioner
pays $500 q year, the same
as drawn by members of con-
gresS.
Another position paying $1,000 a
year Is that on the United States Ship
ping Board, the resignation of Thomas
Scott having become effective April