The Washington herald., 1921-03-15
Rudolph and Oyster Are
Ready to Start Work
After Ceremony.
SENATE UNANIMOUS
FOR CONFIRMATION
Afidavits Prove Neither
Interested in Public
Utilities.

~oPNa Se-A~c OLoNNA eh1 SAhO
H. Rudolph will take their oath Of
office as commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia in the District
Building at $50 a. m. today.
DIR. William Tindall. assistant
secretary to the Commissioners.
will administer the oath to Rudolph.
Secretary Daniel E. Gargis will per-
form the same service for Oyster.
The appointment of Rudolph and
Oyster was confirmed unanimously
by the Senate yesterday afternoon
following a committee hearing.
Sworn statements from each de-
nied that he was financially inter-
ssted in public utilities.
First Task Waits.
An hour after the reins of the
District govrnment are transferred
from J. Thilman Hendrick and Miss
Mabel T. Boardman. who were ap-
pointed by President Wilson to NIL
The vacancies caused by the resigna-
tion of Commissioners Brownlow
and Gardiner. the new Commission
ers will be called upon to serve as
members of the Public Utilities
commission at a hearing on petit
ton of the Washington Gas Light
Company for continuation of its
rates after April 1.
The oath as members OF the
Utilities Commission will be admin
istered by a deputy clerk OF the
Supreme Court of the District OF
Columbia Morgan Beach, clerk OF
he court. whose duty under the law
Is to administer this oath. Is ILL.,
When Rudolph was appointed
commissioner by President Taft in
1910 DR.. Tindall was in the position
now occupied by Garges as secre-
tary of the District board. During
their service together Commissioner
Rudolph and Secretary Tindali be-
cxme fast friends, and-the return
ing official for sentimentsi reasons
requested yesterday. upon being
notified that the Senate had con-
firned his appointment, that Dr.
TindaN swear him in again
Employees of the District govern
ment Yesterday gave a farewell re-
ception to the retiring commission
ers. The scene was in the board
room where the ceremony today
will take place
Co-operatios shown.
Engineer Commissioner Charles
W. Kutz. who, since March 4, when
Hendrick and Miss Boardman went
out of office. has been the only Com
missioner on the Eoard. told the de-
partment heads and employees that
the retiring Commissioners had CO.
operated with him and with each
other, and that there was never a
break in the harmony of purpose
which marked the retiring city ad-
ministration-
The former Commissioners paid
high tribute to the loyalty of the
District employees. Hendrick said
that. even in his private life. he
would be- willing and ready to do
anything in his power for the most
conscientious. loyal and underpaid
working force in the United States"
Bouquets Presented.
Secretary Garges, on behalf of
the employees. presented three bou-
quets of flowers to the former city
heads-the third bouquet being for
Mrs. Hendrick.
The sworn statements from Ru-
dolph and Oyster, denying that they
owned stock or bonds of public util-
tiles, were presented to the Senate
Committee by Edward F. Colladay,
District committeeman of the Re-
publican party.
w. 3. Westlake, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
objected to the confirmation with
out greater deliberations, saying
several citizens asked him to appear
because they desired to look into
the appointments. He said the as
sociation had not gone on record as
favoring the appointments, though
he voiced only his own oposition.
People Restless.
westlake declared the people of
the District are restless because of
the lack of participation in their
own affairs, and that there are 500
or 1000 reds on the government,
payrolls. In answer 10 Senator
Pomerene's demand for information
as to these reds. he declared the
Department of Justice is dealing
with them. He said the sentiment
of the public at large should be
considered and not merely that of
the business men or leaders of civic
organisations. He thought suff. :
cient time had not been given.
Senator Dillingham;. acting chair
man of the District Committee,
before which the hearing was held
between 10 and 11:30 o'clock yes
terday morning. asked West.ake II
he thought hurry could be avoided
when the session Of the Senate is so
brief. and Westlake suggested that
the appointments be made as re-
cess appointments. the confirma-
tions being deferred until the pub
lie should have its say. He declared
he was not opposing the appoint
ments. but the immediate confirma-
tion.
Asks for Delay.
A ID. Fairbairn asked the COM
mftteeSto delay the confirmation un-
til q further Investigation could be
made of the alleged connection of
the appointees with banks that own
stock In utilities. which he said
would tend to bias their view as
ex-oficio members of the Public
Utilities Commission. E. w. Oyster,
waossaid he was no relation to Capt.
Oyster and had lived in Washington
twenty years. opposed the confrma-
tion Of Rudolph. saying that when
Rudolph was commissioner some
years ago he refused to make a
change In the form Of tax assess
nants and denied him q hearing on