Evening star., 1926-12-04
TAL|AFERRO, NEW
Commissioner, TO
TAKE OATH TODAY
President Leaves Question of
Time of Assuming Duties
to RudoIph's Successor.
CHOICE OF DARK HORSE
COMES AS SURPRISE
New District Official Is Democrat.
But Has Been Inactive in
Politics for Years.

Arrangements were made at the
District Building today to administer
the oath of office to Sidney F. Talia
ferro, appointed District Commission
er by President Coolidge yesterday.
at o'clock this afternoon.
The President, 1t is understood. left
the matter Of when Mr.. Taliaferro
would take office entirely with the
newly appointed Commissioner. 1t *
understood the President will send his
nomination to the Senate immediate
ly after the opening of Congress.
Headed by retiring COMMISSIONS
Rudolph. the Board of Commissioners
called on the new appointee at his
home this morning formally to notify
Mr.. TaliaferrO of his appointment and
congratulate him, and after discuss
ing the matter with them Mr.. Talia
ferro changed previous plans he had
made for taking office next week and
decided to take the oath this after
noon.
Accompanied only by Mrs. Talia-
ferro and Thomas p. Littlepage. his
law partner, the new Commissioner
received Mr.. Rudolph. Proctor l..
Dougherty and Engineer Commits
sioner Bell. He told them he hoped TO
carry out the policies of his predeceS-
sors with the success that they had
enjoyed.
when are YOU going to take over
the job?" Commission Rudolph asked
him a few moments after the District
heads had entered the apartment.
II expected to be sworn in today
Mr.. Rudolph" Mr.. Taliaferro answer
ed.
The District heads then discussed
details Of the induction ceremony. to
be performed at 3 O'CLOCK.
The ceremony will be performed
in the boardroom of the District
Building and the oath will he sd-
ministered by. Daniel f.. Garges. sec
retary of the Board of Commissioners
Rudolph Is Delighted.
When Mr.. Rudolph received official
word from the White House that his
resignation had been accepted he al
ranged to retire from office at once.
Plans were made simultaneously
for Mr.. TaliaferrO to take the oath
of office this afternoon. Previous TO
receiving information from the
White House Mr.. Rudolph had beer
uncertain as to when he would step
out of Office.
"I am delighted that the President
place. said Mr.. Rudolph this morn
ing.
Il feel great deal easier than
have felt for sometime. After 81
years of solid work ] think that i am
entitled to play little while
Peculiarly enough. it developed to-
day, President Coolidge has not met
Mr.. Taliaferro. Generally. before max
ing an appointment of this import
ance, the President insists upon a per-
sonal conference with the prospect.
but in this case he apparently was
sufficiently satisfied to make the ap
pointment without personally inter
viewing the prospect. In this connec.
ton 1t was said by associates of the
President today that reports regard.
ing Mr.. Taliaferro were such as to
cause the President to feel that he
was just the man sought and the per.
sonal talk with him would not I've
necessary.
Besides, the President had received
word from Attorney General Sargent,
who talked with Mr.. Taliaferro lats
Yesterday afternoon and who indirect
ly offered him the Commissionership
that the latter was entirely SatisfaC.
!, tory and to all appearances possess
ed the qualifications and experience
that the President was seeking in the
one whom he wanted to take this
post.
One of the Presidents intimates.
while discussing this appointment to-
day. said that upon investigation OF
Mr., TaliaferrO it was found that he
was ideally equipped for the commits
sionershp. 1t was intimated that his
talent for finances and property valu-
alton had considerable to do with the
Presidents final decision. Mr.. Talia
ferro's law practice. while of gen
, eral nature, has been such as to give
him considerable knowledge of Wash.
ington real estate and financial mat
ters. Also his activities as a member
Of the board of governors and treas
urer of the Congressional Country
Club afforded his associates in that
organization an opportunity to form
high opinion Of his abilities for han
ding finances.
Appointment Is Surprise.
appointment of Mr.. Taliaferro came
as a considerable surprise to the city.
, He was typically q dark horse, and 1t
was not until the last few days his
name was presented to the White
House. Not only was his appoint
ment a surprise because his name had
not been mentioned in connection with
LIlc uhtAi IL vas ~ AhSCh
in The Star yesterday, but because
Mr.. Taliaferro is a Democrat. 1t was
generally supposed that the President
would not consider any one from the
opposite party for this place, but 1t is
known that those who had most to do
with bringing Mr.. Taliaferro to the
attention Of the President were Re
publicans. With them it was not a
matter Of partisan politics. More
over, Mr.. Taliaferro Is not active in
politics and has not voted for several
years. 1t Is known also that local
Democratic leaders had nothing what
ever to do with the appointment and
did not know that he was being con-
sidered until announcement was made
in the press.
Thomas p. Littlepage, vice president
Of the League of Republican State
Clubs and one Of the prominent Re.
publicans of the District, is known I"
be the one man responsible for Mr..
TaliaferrO's appointment. They are
associated in the practice of law and
have Offices together In the Union
Trust Building. but are not partners
Mr.. Littlepage's long acquaintance
with his associate caused him
to look upon the latter as being a
man Of unusual ability and as being
peculiarly fitted for the commissioner
ship. 1t was he who suggested this to
several friends who are prominent
business men here and they readily