Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-17
PRESIDENT TO GUST
FENN|NG UNLESSHE
YIELDS POST SOON
Summary Removal Win Fol.
low Selection Of Successor
to Commissioner.
DIFFICULTY EXPERIENCED
IN FINDING RIGHT MAN
Probes Render Job UnaIluring.
Hint Is Heard That Woman
May Be Considered.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
staff Correspondent Of The Star.

VII Il FINE A1ANiFs July It'll
was revealed here today by an au-
thoritative source that Commissioner
Frederick A. Fenning. now is holding
his position only by reason Of the
fact that the President has no one In
mind to appoint as his successor.
Just as soon as the President finds
the type Of Individual he Is seeking
to succeed Mr.. Fenning. he wiz ask
the latter to step out IL necessary.
1t is admitted, however, that the
President is anticipating consider
able difficulty in choosing new Com
missioner. and 1t is thought he may
be delayed somewhat in reaching
decision.
In advancing this information to-
day, an associate Of the President
added that the latter is worried not
at all by the reports in Washington
newspapers that Commissioner Fen
ming is assuming the attitude that he
has no idea of retiring despite state
ments from the President TO the
effect that he is expecting such
step.
Summary Action Seen.
The President, it is explained fur
ther. has given the Commissioner to
understand that he would like to ap-
point some one to his place. and has
afforded him plenty of time to relin-
quish his post gracefully. However.
If the latter persists in remaining
after all this the President will be
less considerate of the Commissioner
feelings and viii sunmarily remove
him, according to the positive belief
Of those who are close to him up here.
Any number OF names have been
sent TO the President for considera-
ton in appointing a successor to Mr..
F'enning. but q brief study Of these
within the past "a hours has only
added to the Presidents belief that
he is faced with a hard job to obtain
the services Of the kind of man he
wants for the place. Several persons
have been recommended who would
have readily received very serious at
tention but for the fact that they do
not possess the qualifications 1t is
necessary under the law governing the
appointment Of Commissioner 10 se-
leet some one who has been a legal
resident of Washington three years
prior 10 the appointment.
In the first place, the salary Of Com
missioner is not sufficient to be at
.
job is one that requires close applica-
tion and is associated with duties that
are onerous. To make the selection
more difficult. the commissionership
has lost considerable Of its attraction
since the Fenning inquiry and the In
vestigation Of the District government
by committees OF Congress.
Many Ineligibles Ready.
4 t
OF course there is the usual batch
of perpetual candidates who always
bob up when Commissioner Is to be
appointed, but 1t is not thought likely
that these win be given second
glance by Mr.. Coolidge.
While discussing the commissioner
ship up here, the President has mani
tested keen desire to land what Is
described as a really big man, some
one OF wide experience, not only as
an executive, but In other fields. He
wants some one with ideas and ideals
and one whose efficiency and breadth
OF vision have been established.
IT is known also that the Presi-
dent would prefer to appoint some
one whose local affiliations, either
politically or IA business way,
would not prove an embarrassment
later. Whether this has been sug-
gested as q result of implications
made during the Fenning investiga-
tion is not known. but it is known
that the President is going to look
long and far and Is going to be IN
no undue haste in making q selec-
tion.
The opinion was expressed today
by one Of the Presidents associates
that he may steer clear of accept
ing any one identified with the So
called clique alleged to be in con-
troll OF things generally in the Capt.
tai and whose activities were mem
toned more or less prominently
during the Fenning investigation.
There Is said to be some likelihood
that the President may not be
greatly influenced by any recon-
Ynendations forthcoming from the
Republican State committee Of the
District, the accredited Republican
organization OF Washington. The
President, however, always has had
q high opinion of the leadership of
this committee. and It seems highly
improbable that he would totally
ignore 1t in this important local
matter.
Shyness Is Explained.
His reported shyness toward this
COMMITTEES may be- due, ii ID pointed
out. to the fact that Commissioner
Fenning was secretary OF the COM
Inittee at the time Of his -eppoint-
raert and that the President would
prefer to cast about elsewhere for
available material.
Even though the President should
show 4 tendency to not want to ap-
'noInf some ono recommended by the
local Republicans, It Is thought by
some Of his associates here that he
would confer with Samuel =. Pres
cntf. chairman of the local State come
Y1iffee. before making q decision. II
"a known that President Coolidge
always has had considerable conn-
l,eilce IN Mr.. Preecptt's Judgment in
fl,e past ana has generally sent for
hiin when he wanted advice about
fhIn0a directly affecting the District
of Columbia Therefore II Il thought
fhat fhe President viii let Commits.
sioner Fenning continue along In his
.rfaeent place until he IS ready to an
,,onnce the nafne Of his successor II
flsaa khourht BY this authority that
aeYefal weeks are likely To eiapEe bes
fore the President makes decision.
poueVef. Il was admitted that fhere
f6SiIx MAS nothing definite upon which
ID tsro this belief other than TIE