Evening star., 1925-05-26
Regrets Loss of Good Men
Barred as Only Part-Time
Residents of Capital.
VACANCY TO BE FILLED
SOON; FIELD INCREASES
Senator King Discusses Appointee: :
Sees Room to Improve
Police Department.

President Coolidge intimated to
callers at the White House today that.
because of the restriction placed By
law upon the eligibility of appointees
to the board of District Commission
ers, that he may at the next session
OF Congress ask for modification of
that part of the law. The President
was represented as expressing him
self to the effect that he has been CON
siderably hampered in looking about
for the right type of man he is anxious
TO select as a successor to the late
Commissioner James F. Oyster
The President has had in mind three
or four men, either one of whom would
be admirable appointments and all of
Wnom are residents of the District in
one sense of the word and yet are in
eligible for appointment because they
have legal or voting residences outside
of the District.
Proposed Change Outlined.
1t is thought by those with whom
the PRESIDENT discussed this that il is
not his intention to have the law
changed so as to make it possible for
President to select some one from
any of the States for Commissioner
regardless of the fact whether he had
ever lived in the District or not. i
is believed that President Coolidge
would like to see made eligible for
the office part time, or $3.50 residents
President Coolidge let it be known
that he intends to fill the vacancy
soon. He sees no necessity for any
great delay. He has received more
than two score of names of persons
suggested for the place. and is under
stood to have made some inquiry
about 10 or II of these, but it is not
thought he has reached any conclu-
sion.
King Discusses Appointee.
The President should appoint a man
to succeed the late Capt. Oyster. who
is not only able to administer the
affairs of the local government, but
who cannot be controlled by any po-
! litical or business machine, in the
opinion of Senator William H. King
of Utah. a member of the District
committee of the Senate.
Senator King was with the Presi-
dent for more than half an hour to-
day the greater part of which time
was devoted to a discussion of filling
the vacant Commissionership and Dis
trict matters generally. He explained
that he has more than an ordinary
interest in the welfare of the District
and hopes the President gives serious
thought to the selection.
Washington should have the serv-
ices of a man who is more interested
in the development and management
of the city itself than he is in politics
or any business or financial interests.
Senator King said he told the PresI-
dent. II hope Mr.. Coolidge selects Il
man of broad vision and with business
experience, and who at the same time
is young and vigorous and has courage
to act as he deems best for the vel
fare of the city and not at the dicta-
ton of any selfish interests.
Offers No Candidates.
He said it was a matter of indiffer-
nece to him whether the President
finally selected a Republican or Dem
ocrat. Politics should not count, he
stated, so long as man of the de-
sired high standard can be landed.
While he indorSed no one for the
place, or had any one TO urge for the
place, he did say to the President in
the way of explanation that men of
the type of John Hays Hammond and
Frederic A. Delano are the ones he
had in mind.
Senator King said, after seeing the
President, that in his opinion there
the management of the affairs of the
District government, particularly the
local police system. In this respect,
he declared, that it was very disap
pointing to him and others in Con
gress to see the lack of Improvement
in the local police system in view of
the increased appropriations for this
branch of the government. lncreas-
ing the salary of those in the Police
nd hn
have not brought about the efficiency
he would like to see.
While Senator King did not propose
the appointment of either Mr.. Ham
mond or Mr.. Delano, it so happens
that both already have been suggested
to the President. The White House
has since been informed, however, that
neither would consider accepting the
appointment.
Field Increases Daily.
With each day the field of candi-
dates and aspirants for the vacant
commissionership increases. Since yes
terday the White House list of names
has been enlarged considerably. Prom
inent among the newcomers are Maj.
Gen. George Barnett, u. S. NJ. c., re-
tired: Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, head
of the District National Guard, and
isaac GanS, VI tlC
Chamber of Commerce.
George c. Havenner, president of
the Anacostia Citizens Association
and a member of the Citizens Ad-
visory Council, has already been in
dorsed formally for the commissioner
ship by four citizens associations,
namely, the Anacostia, Randle High
lands, Barry Farm and East Wash
ington Heights.
The Jackson Democratic Associa-
ton, meeting last night at the Snors-
ham Hotel, went on record favoring
the appointment of a bona fide"
Democrat to succeed Commissioner
OYSTER. 1t was stated in a resolution
adopted which will be forwarded to
President Coolidge that it has been the
custom since the establishment of the
present form of local government in
1873 to appoint a non-partisan Board
of Commissioners.
Although no individual was indorsed
by the association, it was generally
understood by those present that the
members would like to see William
Nick. Clayton, chairman OF the public
utilities committee of the Federation
of Citizens Associations and a member
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