Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-04
TAKES OFFICE OATH
AS CITY HEAD BEFORE BIG THRONC

the Otis Elevator Co. and spent the
morning adjusting the affairs Of his
office before depa rtiDg TO take his
first public position.
Gladioli in profusion were ba mixed
high on his desk in the Otis Building
at $40 Eighteenth street--testimonia
from friends and admirers~-messenge
boys came in almost continuous lines
with messages of congratulations and
newspaper photographers shot In
Vulnerable pictures of him in various
positions. Busy clerks viewed the
proceedings admiring!y, but the new
Commissioner appeared to he some
what puzzled and visibly unDerVed
over the attention so suddenly show
cred upon him.
In an interview with a represent
ative Of The Star MIR Dougherty EN-
pha sized that he would come into of
flee utterly free from any fixed policies
as 10 his administration of the i'm
portant departments of the municipal
government which win come under his
supervision, chiefly the police and fire.
fighting units. II want Ia get my feet
under the desk" he said, before de-
termining any policy 10 guide my ad-
ministration. I also want TO make
a sort OF an inventory of what has
gone on In the past.
Seclusion Not Explained.
Commissioner Dougherty declined
to reveal how he kept in seclusion
Yesterday while scores of newspaper
reporters searched franctically to To-
cate him IL was in several places,
he said. jovially.
The Commissioner did. however, In
dictate that he purposely kept out of
the way of inquiring reporters and
even his friends and associates, be
cause he had not received official con-
ffrmation of his appointment. The an
nouncement came at $3.50 O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. via long-distance
telephone, he said. from Edward 7.
Clark. President Coolidge's personal
secretary, who is at White Pine Camp.
The news Of his appointment, Mr..
Dougherty explained, was almost as
much a surprise TO him as it was to
the public. Just few days ago, he
said a representative of the Depart
ment of Justice interviewed him re-
garding his views as to holding 9. pub
lie, office. but gave him no intimation
that he was being considered for the
commissonership.
II was rather suspicious, though, as
to the object of his mission. although
my suspicious were offset by the fact
that my name had not previously been
mentioned among those submitted to
the President for consideration. l
was supporting Mr.. Suter Jesse G..
Suter. chairman of the Citizens Ad.
visory Council and president Of the
Federation OF Citizens Associations,
and had personally Endorsed him to
the President
Commissioner Dougherty said his re-
ply to the Department of Justice
agents question as to his views on
holding a public office. was In effect
1T is service that no man can re-
fuse. He owes It to the public es-
pecially when chosen by the Presf-
dent
The new Commissioner pointed out
that his inaugural address would be
brief He said he had prepared an
address, but would speak extempo-
raneously.
ut la too warm to bore people with
long ceremonies and a. long speech he
said. II have planned to keep the ex-
ercises as short rs possible, and plunge
into work immediately ~
Among the hundreds of telephone
and telegra phi messages of congratula-
lions Mr.. Dougherty has received since
his appointment. he has failed thus
far to get one from his predecessor.
Frederick A. Fenning. Commissioner
Dougherty is confident however. that
Mr. Fenning will send his congratula-
tions before the day Is over.