Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-03
New officials Appointment Is
Announced simultaneously
With Formal Acceptance OF
Resignation of Old.
DUE TO ASSUME OFFICE
TODAY OR TOMORROW
Executives Choice Has Long Been
a Leader in, Civic Affairs-Won
Seat on Advisory Council-Lived
Here 27 Years-Expected to De-
vote Full Time to Duties.

Proctor L. Dougherty, prominent
IN civic work. an engineer and resi-
dent of Washington for q years, to-
dav was appointed by President
Coolidge to succeed Frederick A.
Fenning as a member of the Board
of District Commissioners.
Announcement of the appointment
was made by the President himself
at the Summer White House, IN
White Pine Camp, New York. The
formal acceptance by the President
of the resignation of Mr.. Fennlng,
which had been requested prior to
Mr.. Coolidge's vacation trip, was an
nounced at the same time.
Although Mr.. Dougherty is in the
city. efforts to locate him were with
out avail up to an early hour TINS
afternoon. His friends expressed the
opinion that the new Commissioner
desired to avoid interviews until he
had received an official notification
from the President OF the appoint
ment. This was expected to reach
Mr.. Dougherty today through the
Department OF Justice.
May Begin Work Today.
Advices from the Summer White
House indicated that President Cool
ldge desires the new Commissioner 10
take Office without delay, and the
supposition there was that he would
assume his new duties in the District
Building this afterneonGor tomorrow
morning, prior TO Mr.. Jennings re-
turn from a brief vacation.
The selection of the Chevy Chase
civic worker for the important post of
Police and Fire Commissioner on the
Capitals board of municipal admins
tration was received here with salts
faction by those who know him well.
While not native son." Mr.. Dough
erty has resided here since 1899 and
throughout his period of residence
here has manifested a deep and un-
selfish interest In the public welfare,
not only of his own community, but
of the city as a whole.
Mr.. Dougherty's long interest in
civic activities won for him a seat on
che Citizens Advisory Council. which
he was instrumental in founding two
year ago. He is the first member of
this semi-off1cial group of advisors to
the Commissioners to be assigned
post on the board of Commissioners,
and this fact was hailed today as a
generous recognition of this seml-ofn-
cial body Of citizens.
Approval Is FOreseen.
Those associated with the President
today expressed confidence that Mr..
Doughertys appointment will be ia
vorably received by the citizens of the
National Capital, as well as by the
Senate, by whom the appointment
must be confirmed at the forthcoming
session. The commission is of recess
nature. subject to congressional ap-
proval.
1t is understood from official sources
that the new Commissioner will sever
his business associations with the Otis
Elevator Co.. of which he is the eX-
ecutive representative in Washington
of the vice president of the company.
While it was not said officially how
Mr.. Dougherty was brought favor
ably to the Presidents attention and
upon whose recommendation the lat
ter acted it is understood that Mr.
Dougherty is we'll known to E. T.
Clark personal secretary to the Presl-
dent, and to James B. Reynolds,
former secretary of the Republican
national committee and Vice Presi-
dent of the Commercial National
Bank in Washington, who assisted the
President in negotiating the business
of considering the field of candidates
Cor Mr.. Jennings place.
Believed Well Qualified.
= The President was advised that Mr..
Dougherty, because of his long resi-
Hence in the Capital and his interest
and activity in civic and business
affairs of the District, is eminently
Nvell qualified for the place to which
fS has been appointed Besides these
natural qualifications Mr.. Dougherty
a. represented as possessing the
Esrength of character and the scope
of vision as well as the business eX-
perience desired by the President In
the one he was to appoint TO succeed
Dir. Fenning.
Mr.. Dougherty's civic activities
have not been confined to his own
Neighborhood in Chevy Chase. Besides
being a delegate to the Federation OF
Citizens Associations and the Citizens
advisory Council, he is member of
che citizens joint committee for ma
tional representation, which organi-
cation has been so active working in
the interest of national representation
for the District of Columbia, and is
chairman of the national representa-
ton committee of the Federation of
Citizens Associations.
Mr.. Dougherty was born in Cam
bridge, Mass, SO years ago, his father
and mother being Rev. and Mrs. M. A.
Dougherty He was educated in the
public schools of Cambridge and later
at the Massachusetts Institute of
technology.
Took Post Here in 1899.
In 1899 he accepted a position in
the supervising architects Office of
the Treasury with headquarters in
Washington. Ten years later he ac-
cepted a position with the Otis Eleva-
tor Co., to serve in an engineering
capacity with headquarters in the Dis.
trict. A few years ago he was pro
} NOTED to the position he held at the
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