The Washington times., 1925-05-19
MAINTAINED
INTEREST
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Datrict Commissioner, except re
Gently. Oyster was absent from his
desk not more than a dozen days.
He never took vacations. He worked
from 9 a. m. to p. M, sometimes
later and always on Sunday. He
divorced himself entirely from his
butter and egg business at Ninth
and Pennsylvania avenue to devote
more time to his duties as Conn
missioner.
The District Commissioners met
at $50 o'clock today, adopted a
resolution OF regret and adjourned
out of respect to Captain Oyster.
The resolution follows:
Resolved, the Board of Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia
has suffered a great loss in the
death of one Of its members, James
r. Oyster, who died at 1915 o'clock
this morning.
Performed Duties to Last.
Through long Illness, which he
bore with Christian fortitude. he
performed his duties as Commits
sioner though confined to his home,
and up to the last he evinced
keen interest in his work.
"A native of Washington, he gave
h large portion of his life to public
service, and his fearless and sturdy
character, and sterling integrity
was acknowledged by all with whom
he came in contact. His intense
devotion to duty no doubt hastened
his untimeIy death. AS a mark of
respect, the flags on all District
buildings and institutions will be
1T half-staff for period Of thirty
days.
During the mineral services work
at the District Building win be sus-
Bonded out Of respect to the MEM
bry Of the late Commissioner
Extend Sympathy.
1.-THE Commissioners OF the Dis
krict of Columbia, in board meet
ing assembled, extend to his family
their heartfelt sympathy.
"A copy OF this resolution will be
spread on the minutes of the board,
and q. copy furnished the family of
she deceased"
RudOlph's Tribute.
Commissioner Rudolph issued the
following statement:
my association with James r.
Oyster has been one Of the most
oieasant experiences of my life. He
was always genial, frank, fair,
broadminded and governed by the
highest sense Of official and per
eonal duty.
20 his sturdy candor than that paid
20 him by one of his friends, who
said: Whatever he is, he is
His robust spirit was tempered
nv the instinct of unubtrusive piety
and kindly bauevolence and sus-
tained in every crisis by CORE
spending moral and physical cour-
age.
As a member and president OF
the Chamber of Commerce and sub
soquentIy of the Board of Trade, as
president of the Board of Education,
as Rent Commissioner, as director
Of the Federal Reserve Bank at
Richmond, and as District Conf
missioner he discharged with con-
Spicuous ability and Public approval
every responsibility which those OBJ
legations entailed.
1.-The community and those i'm
RaediateIy associated with him have
met in his passing a grievous loss.
Great Loss to ID. c.
Commissioner J. Franklin Bell
made the following statement:
hC OISlA Ak0C ShAAOA GA a GA~N1A
loss. / always lad a strong per-
eonaI liking for Commissioner
Oyster and great admiration for his
ideals in performing his duty. He
was greatly interested in trying to
make Washington everything 1t
should be-"
Impressions of regret were also
issued by Acting Police Superinten.
dent Charles A. Evans. Fire Chief
George S. Watson, Supervisor of
Fairgrounds Mrs. Susie Root
Rhodes, Health Officer William c.
Fowler, Superintendent of Weights
and Measures George Roberts. Cor
poration Counsel Frank II.
Stephens, Auditor Daniel J. Dono-
van; Secretary Daniel T.. Gargcs and
cou0tless others closely associated
vita him in his work as District
Commissioner.
The Blaine Invincible Republican
Club held a special meeting today
and passed resolutions of regret. A
committee comprising Francis
Wells, James C. Cameron, J. Frank
lin Wilson, r. b. Blount, J. r.
the resolutions.
The DeadIine Club. organization
of Washington newspapermen, also
adopted a resolution OF regret.
Died At 1915 A. NJ
Commissioner Oyster. bett er
known as Captain a title acquired
when he was a member of the Did
National Rifles. died at 1915
o'clock this morning. At the led
side We're his daughter. Helene.
bis son, Norman, close friend of
the family, Clark Diamond, two
nurses, and Doctor William Earl
Clark, the Commissioners physician.
He was conscious to the end.
calmly facing death. His heart
failed him and he died Just as if
he were going to sleep Doctor
Clark said.
Grief hurried the end. Although
in poor health at the time of his
wife's death. Commissioner Oyster
was very active. A decline in his
condition became noticeable a few
weeks after the funeral. He re-
fused, however, to admit the seri-
BUSINESS of his illness until a few
months ago, when his physical con-
ditIon became such as to force him
70 bed.
Death was expected for -he past
several months. Attending physi-
clans marvelled at the gameness of
the seventy-four-year-ol Commits
sioner. He fought until he breathed
his last, still trying to win in The
hattie for life.