Evening star., 1926-12-05
TAL|AFERRO TAKES
OATH; DOUGHERTy
HEADS NEW BOARD
Commissioner Bell Again
Named Acting Chairman
at Reorganization.
RUDOLPH Is PRAISED
FOR HIS LONG SERVICE
Retiring Official Expresses Pleas
ure at Being Freed of Bur.
dens of Office.

Sidney F. Taliaferro was inducted
into Office as District Commissioner
yesterday afternoon, and in an in
augural address marked by the ut
most brevity pledged himself to give
earnest. serious thought and con-
sideration' to the problems of the
municipal government.
The new Commissioner took the
oath of Office shortly after o'clock.
scarcely less than "a hours after his
appointment had been announced by
President Coolidge. The ceremonies
were held in the boardroom OF the
District Building before a crowd that
taxed it's capacity. Among them were
persons prominent in the business and
civic life of the Capital. officials and
employees of the District government
and many of Mr.. Taliaferro's rela-
tives and intimate friends.
Immediately after the exercises Mr..
Taliaferro met with his colleagues,
Commissioners Proctor L. Dougherty
and ]. Franklin Bell, for reorganlza-
ton meeting of the Board of Commls'
sioners. Mr.. Dougherty, who only last
August became a Commissioner. was
elected president of the board. Com
missioner Bell was reelected acting
chairman.
Dougherty Presents Badge.
Daniel E. Garges. secretary to the
Board of Commissioners, administered
the oath to Mr.. Taliaferro as he stood
almost motionless. Then Commls'
sioner Dougherty pinned on the left
lapel of his coat a badge emolematic
of his Office. which had just previously
been surrendered by Cuno n. Hu-
dolph. his predecessor.
fWashington has many problems IN
its CITY government. said Mr.. Talia-
ferro in his short inaugural speech.
LAS they come l will give them ear
nest. serious thought and considera-
ton. and do for the people OF wash
in1ton the best that l can with tne
best Of my ability.
commissioner Bell, who presided
lauded the Presidents s selectlon OF MI.
Tauaferro and also paid a glowing
tribute to Mr. Rudolph who retired
from office with one Of the longest
records of service as head OF the DIS
trict government.
After very careful consideration,
said commissioner Bell. the President
missioner of the District. He comes
to this office exceedingly we'll dualihed
and with the youth. energy and Legal
knowledge to assist him in the onerous
duties which lie before him.
Rudolph Is Praised.
"Those who know him will speak
in the highest terms of his character,
his Judgment, and his ability to co.
onerate with his associates: ana
character, judgment and spirit OF CO.
operation are fundamental characters
tics essential to satisfactory per-
forn1a nee of public service.
Mr.. Taliaferro is succeeding IN
Office a man who has the, uRquanned
respect of every man VINO mas Deeh
associated with him in his long term
of service and who is retiring from
office with the love and esteem or the
neople whom he served so faithfully
and efficiently. I hope that the new
may serve as long ana
with such distinction and credit.
"No easv task lies before the new
commissioner. Our National Capital
has entered on an era of building de-
yelopment and reconstruction that VIII
demand the best that any man can
give to promote the public welfare ana
to advise and guide.
Commissioner Taliaferro will find
here loyal and efficient assistants
whose most earnest desire is to serve
the public faithfully and well, and l
wish to assure him that in the meet
ings of the board of commissioners he
will find the finest spirit OF co'opera'
ton and helpfulness."
Office Sign Changed.
Mr.. Taliaferro did not take the oath
of office as a member of the pubic
utilities commission which is given
customarily when a new commissioner
is installed by a clerk of the District
Supreme Court. This oath will be
given to him sometime this week, &C
cording TO present plans.
The new commissioner arrived at
the District 10 minutes befort the In
augural ceremonies were scheduled to
begin, accompa MED by his wife and
Thomas P. Littlepase, his law part
ner, He went to the Office OF Com
missioner Dougherty. AS the group
stepped from the elevator their eyes
unconsciously turned toward Mr.. Ru-
dolphs Office where workmen just a
few minutes previously had put a
glass in the transom over the outer
door bearing the inscription Com
missioner Taliaferro.' They stopped
momentarily. passed several inaudible
remarks and proceeded toward the
board room.
At the close of the inaugural cere-
monies a reception was held. Mr..
Rudolph stood in the receiving line
beside his successor and received the
affectionate farewell greetings Of his
associates and friends.
Assignments are Unchanged.
While no changes were made in the
assignments of the commissioners at
the reorganization meeting, it was in
dicated that several shifts might be
effected Tuesday at the seni.weekly
meeting of the board Of commission
ers. AS a result Mr.. Taiaferro will
have supervision temporarily, at least.
over the departments which were un-
der the direction Of Mr.. Rudolph.
These include the Offices Of the audi
tor, tax assessor, tax collector, sup
erintendent of licenses, disbursing Of
ficer, playground department and the
board of public welfare.
Cuno II. Rudolph is now a private
citizen, and contrary to reports yes.
terday, he will not return to the Dis.
trict Building this week to help
break in his successor. Mr.. Ru-
dolph is through and any doubts
which may have existed over his de-
sire to return to private life were dis
u Continued on Page 2. Column q.