Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-11

I.askey on Preferred List.
IT is understood that others who are
said to be on the preferred list headed
by Mr.. F'leharty placed before Inc
President TODAY are John =. Laskey,
former limited States attorney Of the
District. who has been one Of the lead
ing figures of the local bar fora mum
ber ,<of, years: Edward DuvaI, George
Barse and Hugh Frampton.
The. President has been represented
as not having given serialls consfdera
tion to The name of William Mckee
CLAYTON, who heretofore has represent
ed the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations In all public utility matters
The President is known to be anx-
ious to dispose of this matter just as
soon as possible; He has rankly
stated that the law governing this APP
pointnent has tied his hands to such
an extent that he has been greatly emf
barrassed and handicapped in obtain
ing the services of some one who
could pass muster and at the same
time possesses the same high stand
ards that the President lis looking for
in the one whom he appoints as peo-
pies counsel.
The principal difficulty the President
has met has been that section of the
law prohibiting person from serving
in the position who shall have during
a period of five years proceeding his
appointment, directly or indirectly,
been interested in any local public
utility or in any stock, bond, mortgage
security or contract of any such
public utility. @ .t1 -.
President Cites Examples.
The President recently said, to
friends while discussing this section
of the law that il it was taken liter
ally there is no one who would not be
disqualified. He mentioned for the
sake of argument the contracting for
a telephone or the purchase of street
car token as sufficient TO disqualify an
individual because these transa ctions
would, by literal interpretation of the
law, be Judged as entering into CON
tract with a public utility.
That section of the law requiring
the person to be appointed to be a
bona flde resident of the District for
"a period OF five years prior to his
appointment also has contributed TO
the problem of filing this place. &C!
cording to the President. The Presh
dent Is known to look upon the work
this public officer will be called upon
to perform as of especial importance,
and for that reason has used great
care in considering the appointment
Born i'm Illinois. Ae.g !.
Mr.. Fleharty was born in Gales
burg, Ill, AZ years ago, but he has
been a resident of the.4District sof Co
lumbia for 80 years. He attended the
grade schools of this city. and in 1900
entered the Eastern High School.
Two years later he was transferred
to the Mckinley Manual Training
School, from which he was graduated
in 1904. He then entered the George
town University Law School, 'recefv-
ing his degree in11909,. and was ad-
mitted to the bar of the District the
same year. ST.. s54Ssaf. ~ &a
Shortly afterward Mr-YFleharty en-
tered upon the practice of law. which
he has followed ever since. He was
associated with j. S. Esa sby-Smith for
10 years He is a member of the Bar
Association of the District.
Although never having taken lead
ing part in civic work in this, city,
Mr.. Fleharty has always been Inter
ested in the Development and better
ment of the city. He Is a member of
the Chevy Chase Citizens .Associa-
ton. He is fond of outdoor sports
and is a member of the Columbia
Country Club. He belongs also to
the Racquet Club and columbia lodge
of Masons. lie is a member of the
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church,
Mr.. Fleharty. married MISS rInez
Parker OF this city In 1872 AID Hves
with his family at. 1905 Nsfty.ftrst
street, Chevy chase, "a. G..
i ~ f.