Evening star., 1926-10-26
Body Appeals to President
Not to Name Outside
Man for Position.
OBJECTS TO REMOVING
PEOPLE FROM AFFAIRS
Letter Points Out That Appointee
Should Be Familiar With
Problems of Capital

The Washington Board of Trade
today appealed 10 President Coolidge
to appoint a WashinStouian 10 sue
ceed CIno II. Rudolph rs Commis
sioner' of the District OF Columbia.
In letter sent to the White House
and signed by j. Harry Cunningham.
president of the organization, the
board expressed the hope that Presi
dent Coolidge would Select one Of
Hundreds Of persons in Washington
whose unuueStionable integrity AMI
ability would well fit them for the
office of Commissioners of the District
of Columbia"
The matter came up NJ meeting
of the executive committee or tht
board yesterday when press reports
of President CoolidGeS statement, IL
regard to the appointment OF new
commissioners led the committee I"
feel that he might prefer a tonothiS
sionel. who is not a legal resident o;
the National Capital. and whose III
terests here would not be such az I"
make him familiar with the require
ments and the problems of tho en-
zens of the District.
OppOses Outside Control
The executive committee pointed plt
that the citizens of the Ndtlon'l zap
ital have no voice i'll local or natloHd'
Government affairs. and that the an
pointemert OF an outsider as com
missioner would be a means or fuf'
ther removing the people of NaShlns-
ton from the conduct OF the andlrS
of their own community.
The board. while it has NOT ap-
nroved local elections for COMMISSION
ers and municipal officers, mas always
advocated local men as COMMISSION
erS. The executive committee yestef.
dav reaffirmed the stand of the board
that local men should occupy the
offices in the local government. feaf
of the use of the municipal ONCE
Of the National Capital FOR p"-
litical purposes If the appolhtlieI,'
Of outside men is made general Is
one of the outstanding reasons of the
boards stand on this question, as well
as the lack Of understanding or
the part of a Commissioner hereto
fore not closely in touch with the
affairs of the District.
Text of Letter.
The letter addressed to the Presi
dent follows:
Through press reports, II has come
to the attention Oh the W dSIiuElpH
Board of Trade that you are consider
ing the possibility of the appointment
of a Commissioner of the District Of
Columbia who is not a legal resident
of our city, and that you feel there
are many persons who vote elsewhere
but have interests in Washington,
who would, be eligible for the Office"
THE board. which represents ar
proximately 5000 OF the leading
citizens and business men of the
National Capital, has for the entire
81 wears of it's existence urged that
those who are to direct the affairs Of
the city should be local persons. We
feel there are hundreds of persons in
washington whose unqueStionable In
teGrity and ability would well fit them
for the office of Commissioner Of the
District of Columbia.
without representation or voice III
the conduct of the affairs of our city
YOU. Mr. President, for the appoint
ment Of one who is familiar with our
needs and our problems and who.
through the fact of his citizenship
here, will understand the wishes and
desires of the people whom he is 10
represent.
1--WE are sure you will realize til"
impotency of $4,000 people of tn"
Nations Capital I'm the affairs OF their
own city and realize that cur plea for
the appointment of a local man ae
Commissioner is a fair and Just one
u. HARRY CUNNINGHAM.
president" D."