Evening star., 1926-10-23
President, at Sea Over Ru-
dolph's Successor, Re-
gretS 3-Year Clause.
FIELD OF POSSIBILITIES
NARROWED BY BARRIER
Executive Indicates He Will Offer
No Objection to Repeal or
Modification of Act.
BY j. RUSSELL YOTNG.


he is all at sea in the matter OF
selecting a successor to Cuno III.
Rudolph, who has asked TO be relieved
as soon as possible as a member OF
the Board of District Commissioners.
At present he has no one in mind
for the place, and moreover he sees
little possibility of making q selection
in the immediate future. Discussing
the subject, the President plainly in
dicated his task is q difficult one
mainly because he is so restricted and
limited in making a choice.
The President, mindful of troubles
he has had in the past in making ap-
ppintments to the Board of Commits
sioners, said through his spokesman
that the principal difficulty lies In that
section of the law, governing the ap
pointments Of commissioners, which
requires q three years legal residence
in this city.
Law Limits Field.
In voicing his opposition to this re
strictiOn the President contended that
the law not only makes his task all
the harder, but limits the field from
which he may choose. President
Coolidge does not believe the three
years residence limitation is entirely
necessary. He indicated he would of
fer no objection if an attempt is made
in Congress to repeal or modify the
section.
During this candid discussion of
the subject there was nothing said
or intimated by the Executive which
could be taken to infer he intended
personally to initiate the movement
to repeal or modify this feature OF
the law which is proving so trouble
some to him. Nor did the President
give the impression that he wants
a free hand to permit him to go be
yond the limits of the District OF Co
lumbia to find a Commissioner, or
that he considers this city lacking i'll
available material for the position.
The President agrees that resident
Of Washington should be appointed
to the commissionership. He believes
such an appointee should have lived
here at least three years, as Is speci-
fled in the law, but he does not think
the retention Of a legal residence In
some Of the States merely for voting
purposes should bar an individual
from accepting this appointment.
Mr.. Coolidge was represented as he
ing satisfied that there are any num-
ber Of persons living in the District
u
every particular, but who are ineligible
because they maintain a voting resi-
dence elsewhere.
Good Material Eliminated.
The President pointed out that
some Of those he had in mind have
lived here for a number Of years. have
homes here, as we'll as business and
other interests, and are therefore citl
zens in fact, although they may still
hold on to a voting residence in IL
State. He contends that such per
sons are virtually citizens of this city
and he regrets that the law compels
him to eliminate them from any con-
sideration.
AS for the available material among
the residents of this city who are
eligible under the law, the President
was represented as saying he knows
there are any number of them who
have the experience and ability re-
ouired. He has found, however, that
many of these desirables do not want
the place They are either too much
absorbed in thir own private affairs
or else they are not in position to
make the necessary sacrifice in the
event they should respond to the
Presidents call to public service.
Then, too, the President, from HIS
experience in casting about last sum
mer for q successor to Frederick A.
Fenning, knows that many of these
availables, who are eligible In every
way, do not care to accept the position
and be compelled to face attacks from
members of Congress.
Must Meet His Ideals.
Although not at all enthusiastic
over the task confronting him. the
President is none the less determined
to get the type Of man who will
measure up to his ideals. He has not
vet given any considerable amount Of
thought or study to this problem. but
will do so. later. In the meantime
he has turned over to two Of his close
friends, who are prominently identi-
fed in Washington and who have
wide acquaintances, the task of look
ing about for him.
To these men, the President has
merely outlined his desire IN the mat
ter of the caliber of person he wants
and has requested them to canvass
the field thoroughly. The President
is hoping that one Of these scouts
will eventually produce the person
who will qualify.
The list Of candidates for the COM
missionership is growing daily. The
prospects are that the field will be
larger even than the one last Summer.
when the President appointed Proctor
L. Dougherty. 1t is said at the White
House that more than so names were
presented to the President at that
time. Already more than a score have
made their appearance at the White
House. Some of these early 'candi-
dates have displayed no end of in
genuity and enterprise in the matter
of the campaign they have launched.
Some have solicited the support Of
one or more Senators or Representa-.
tives and others have accompanied
their applications with Endorsements
of various organizat tions and individ-
uals.
Two Women Active.
Probably the two most active can.
didates, at least from the viewpoint
OF Inducements, are two women.
Since the two latter made applications
for Mr.. Rudolph's place the White
House has received any number OF
communications from women's clubs
and organizations, not only in this
city, but from all over the country,
urging the President to appoint a
woman to this position.
1t was made known at the White
House that when Commissioner
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