Evening star., 1925-06-05
COL. F. A. FENN|NG
TAKES HIS OATH AS
D. c. COMMISSIONER
Brings the, "Washington
Vision" to New Office,
Rudolph Says.
HEARTILY WELCOMED
BY HIS ASSOCIATES
Meets Police Heads Today and Will
Take Up Duties of the
Late J. F. Oyster.

Before an audience of several hun
dred District officials, business and
professional men, leaders in civic or
ganizations and a host Of personal
friends, Col, Frederick A. Fenning
took the oath of office of Commission
er in the board room of the District
Building at 10 o'clock this morning.
In a brief address to those who as
sembled to wish him success, Commits
sioner Fenning said he realized fully
the responsibility placed upon him to
help direct the affairs of city that is
not only the home of half million
people, but the Capital of the Nation.
'It is no small thing TO occupy an
executive position in directing the
business affairs of a city Of practically
half n million people" the new Com
missioner said. THE obligation In
this regard is highly intensified when
that city Is the Capital of a great Ma
tion. The problems that might other
wise be purely local assume a ma
tional aspect.
THE responsibility of the executive
heads Is not a local responsibility, but
they are under obligation to all the
people in the country to rightly ad
minister the business affairs of the
Capital City. However, in taking this
responsibility, / am not embarklng on
an unchartered sea.
AS soon as the ceremonies were over
Commissioner Fenning attended his
first meeting of the Board of Commits
sioners, at which Commissioner Ru
dolph was reelected president of the
board.
In presenting Col. Fenning to the
assemblage in the boardroom, Com
missioner Rudolph paid tribute to the
memory of the late Commissioner
James +. Oyster and announced that
the new Commissioner would super
vised the same departments, which
he said, were so ably administered by
Capt. Oyster.
Has Washington Vision.
Like his distinguished predecessor,
Commissioner Rudolph continued
Col. Fenning is a real Washingtoniar
with the true WaShingtonian' vision
and imbued with the genuine spirit
of the native son. Our President, with
that rare sagacity and understanding
which has characterized his selection
of men and women for public office
long before he became our Chief Elk
executive, has selected Col. F'enning
this community. and the future will. |
am sure, prove he has chosen wisely.
Firmly established in the confidence
of the President and assured of the
good will of the people of the Ma
tional Capital. you may enter upon
your duties unafraid. We welcome
you, sir, most heartily to the ranks
of District officialdom."
Chief Justice Walter I. Mccoy of
the District Supreme Court then ad-
ministered the oath of District Com
missioner, after which Morgan H.
Beach, clerk of the District Supreme
Court, gave the new Commissioner
the oath of the Public Utilities Com
mission.
Maj. Raymond A. Wheeler, acting
Engineer Commissioner in the absence
from the city of Col. Bell, pinned upon
Col. Fenning the gold badge worn by
members of the Board of Commits
sioners.
In beginning his address Commits
sioner Fenning said:
Thanks Many Friends.
1.-TWO subjects are uppermost in my
mind this morning. / am thinking
how deeply 1 should appreciate and
how deeply l do appreciate the action
of the President of the United States
In selecting me for this high office. I
appreciate the cordial reception that
has been accorded me by my associ-
ates on the Board of Commissioners.
My thanks are due to the press of the
city of Washington, for IL has come to
my notice that every newspaper pub
lished in this city has greeted my ap.
pointment with cordiality. / am in
debted to Mr.. Beach, clerk of the-court
who is here in his official capacity, and
particularly to my friend of many
years, the learned chief justice, whost
legal acumen has challenged the re-
spect and admiration of the bar. and
whose gracious manner has won him
the affectionate regard of all the peo.
pie of this jurisdiction. My thanks
60 out to the very large number of
friends and wellwishers who have
written me messages of congratula-
ton, and who have SO expressed them.
selves as they have met me in the past
few days. These messages have come
from persons in all walks of life, and
have not been confined to the District
of Columbia, one having been received
by me by wire from ST. Louis, Mo-.
from my friend-who at one time held
this office-Mr. w. Gwynn Gardiner
And, finally, / thank you, my friends
who, by attending these exercises this
morning, have indicated not only your
interest in the exercises, but that YOU
wish me well in the duties that / now
undertake.
After telling of his realization OF
the responsibility facing him as a
Commissioner, Col. Fenning concluded
his remarks as follows:
For nearly SO years citizens OF
Continued on Page 2, Column ~