Evening star., 1925-06-03
FENN|NG To TAKE
OATH AS OYSTERS
SUCCESSOR FRIDAY
Selection of Capital Native as
Commissioner Wins Wide
Acclaim. g
APP0INTEE HAS LONG
RECORD IN CIVIC WORK
Choice Comes as surprise-Will
Have Control Of Police De-
partment.

Col. Frederick A. Fenning, whose
appointment as District Commissioner
was announced by the White House
late yesterday, made formal arrange
ments today to take the oath of office
in the board room of the District
Building at 10 o'clock Friday
morning.
The oath of District Commissioner
will be administered by Chief Justice
Walter /. Mccoy of the District Su-
preme Court and the separate oath
which he must take as a member of
the Public Utilities Commission will
be given by Morgan H. Beach, clerk
of the District Supreme Court.
The selection by President Coolidge
OF Col. Fenning, a native Washingto-
nian and man thoroughly familiar
with the affairs of the District, was
commended today both by officials at
the District Building and by repre-
sentative residents Of the city.
Selection Is Surprise.
The congratulations sprung both
from the fact that Col. Fenning is a
native son and thoroughly familiar
with the affairs of Washington and
also because he was selected by the
President from large field of aspi.
rants, without any. solicitation on his
part. In fact, Col. Fenning did not
know until a few days ago that he was
even being considered for the place,
and he was greatly surprised when he
received a request from the President
to come to the White House Monday
night to discuss local affairs.
Those who had suggested Col. Fen
ming to the President represented him
as possessing the various qualifica-
tions and standards desired by the
latter and that his selection would be
an extremely happy and fortunate one
from every viewpoint. 1t is understood
that President Coolidge was convinced
of this after his long conference with
Col. Fenning Monday night, and at the
conclusion of this conversation asked
his caller If he would accept the com.
| missionership.
Felt Acceptance a Duty
According to Col. Fenning. he thank.
ed the President for the great compli.
ment he was paying him, but that
he would like to give the matter seri-
Gus thought before giving a definite
answer. After considering the offer
and soliciting the advice of some of
his most intimate friends he notified
the President yesterday afternoon
that he would accept. He explained
had been offered TO him by the Presi-
dent personally without any solicita-
ton on his part, he felt 1t was his
civic duty to accept.
Will Lead Police.
Commissioner Fenning will take
supervision over the same group Of
municipal agencies that were super
vised by the late Commissioner Oyster.
namely, the Police, Fire, Health and
| Playground Departments, the Office of
traffic director, weights and measures.
and the coroner's office, 1t was an
nounced at the District Building to-
day.
Col Fenning will take Office on the
| eve of the preparation of the next
District budget, the most important
task the Board of Commissioners Is
called upon to perform during the
year.
While the new Commissioner Is a
| lifelong Washingtonian and well
versed in local problems, he asked
/ today to be excused from discussing
| questions of policy on the outstanding
] issues between the United States and
| District Governments until he has en-
tered formally upon his new duties.
Outlines Hopes for City.
| Col. Fenning, however, did authorize
a statement, in which he revealed his
! keen interest in the future develop
ment of his native city.
! He said:
| my hope for Washington is that 1t
! will always be a city of which all peo-
pie of the country will be proud. When
| citizens visit their Capital City, 1t Is
my hope that they will find clean, well
| kept streets, safe to pedestrians and
| to vehicles; parks in which the beau
| ties of nature can be enjoyed; a police
force, courteous and helpful, and every
attention given to the preservation OF
| the public health and the protection OF
| property.
The telephone in Col. Jennings Of
flee in the Evans Building was kept
ringing this morning, as close friends
and civic leaders called to congratu-
late him upon his appointment.
Rudolph Praises Fenning.
! Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph,
chairman of the Board of 1Commis-
sioners, today lauded the selection OF
| Mr.. Fennine by President Coolidge.
| at have known Mr.. Fenning for
many years and am confident he will
| fill the office of Commissioner ably. He
Is thoroughly familiar with the affairs
of the District of Columbia and is emf
| nently qualified to join in administer
ing the government of Washington.
1 am sure the fullest cooperation will
continue to prevail in the Board Of
Commissioners"
Commissioner Rudolph and Acting
lEngineer Commissioner Raymond
Wheeler called at the home of Col.
Fenning, 2134 Leroy place, this morn
ling and were among the first to con-
graduate him upon his appointment.
Later in the morning the new Com
missioner visited the District Building
and conferred with Commissioner
IRudolph and Maj. Wheeler, after
which Col Fenning said he understood
he would take over all of the depart
ments formerly supervised by Conr
missioner Oyster.
"I am particularly glad that 1 am
to supervise the police, fire and health
departments, because they are
branches of the public service in
which 1 have always been keenly in
terested. l am especially interested
in public health matters"
Col Fenning will spend the next two
days in arranging his private affairs,
and will be ready to assume active
duty at the District building after he