Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-13
Preparations Are Arranged
TO Relieve Commissioners
of Duty of Nominees.
CHOICES FORWARDED
FOR CONFIRMATION
Yaden Expresses Disappointment
Over Failure of President to
Honor William Nick. Clayton.

ConnrmdLlon by the senate or Inc
two civilian members, John w.
Childress and Benjamin F. Adams,
and the peoples counsel. Blaine
Mallan. whose appointments were
announced late yesterday by Pres
ident Coolidge. The nominations
went to the Senate today.
Preparations have virtually been
completed at the District Building,
it was announced today, for shifting
the affairs of the present commits
sion over to the new appointees and
relieving Commissioners Proctor L.
Dougherty and Sidney f. Taliaferro
of one of the most exacting of their
many duties. Orders also were given
to hasten plans for the accommoda-
ton of the new commission in the
District Building, already cramped
for space by the various municipal
activities.
Clayton Quits UncOmpensated.
AS a climax to the appointment of
the new commission. William Mex.
Clayton, who has acted as special
legal adviser to the commission since
last October 20, handed his resigna-
ton to Commissioner Bell this after
noon and refused to accept any COM
pensation for his work
While the appointment of Mr. Chill
dress and Mr.. Adams as the civilian
members of the commission were fore
cast yesterday by The Star. the
naming of Mr.. Mallan as the peoples
counsel came somewhat as a surprise,
especially to the various civic organ
izations which had indorsed and sup
<a1 NTI. f1V A-
the leader of organized citizenship of
the District, James G. Yaden, presi-
dent of the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations and chairman of
the Citizens Advisory Council. ex-
pressed keen disappointment over the
failure of the President to reward Mr..
Clayton for his long, faithful and un-
renumerative service by appointing
him TO one of the three Offices.
II am disappointed, he said, that
the President did not see his way
clear to appoint Mr.. Clayton. For
almost 20 years he has served con-
tions public utility committee and he
undoubtedly is the best qualified man
in the District. ] feel certain, too,
that many of our citizens associations
are likewise disappointed.
At the same time, the opinion was
expressed generally that the President
had made three good appointments.
Posts Are Retroactive.
The appointments of the two civil
ian members who with Engineer Com
missioner j. Franklin Bell. will con-
stitute the new commission, as well
as that of Mr.. Mallan, were made
retroactive to July 26. 1926. Mr..
Adams will have the shortest term,
his appointment being for two years
Mr.. Childress will hold his post foy
three years, while Mr.. Mallan viii
have a four-year tenure.
All three plan to take Office jus
as soon as their appointments are con
f1rmed, but in doing SO they vii
confront District officials with a pei
picking problem. The salaries which
amount to $500 a year each, ar
carried in the first deficiency apprc
priation bill now before Congress, anC
will not be available for some time
it is feared. forcing them perhaps I
serve temporarily, at least, withou
compensation.
Capper Plans Wait.
Chairman Capper of the Senate
District committee stated this after
noon that he would wait a week or
10 days before taking up in the COM
mittee the nomination of the two
utility commissioners and the
peoples counsel to give residents of
the District time to communicate
their views on the appointments 10
the commission. Senator Capper
said he did not know the appointees
personally, but that apparently the
President had given careful thought
to the appointments.
AS to the question of whether the
new Utility Commissioners could be-
gin to serve as soon as they are con-
f1rmed if their salaries have not been
for at that time, Sena-
tor Capper expressed the belief that
they could begin to function immedi-
ately after they are confirmed. AL
though the deficiency appropriation
bill which is to carry the salaries for
these new positions has not yet been
acted on by Congress. Senator Capper
said that undoubtedly the appropria-
ton will be made and that ii may be
acted on by the time the appointments
have been passed upon by the Senate.
Under the act creating the new COM
the present commission, COM
posed Of Commissioners Bell Chair
mani, Dougherty and Taliaferro, will
iress and Mr.. Adams take office.
Pay Courtesy Calls.
When word was officially received
1t the District Building Of the APP
,ointments. Commissioners Dough-
srty and Bell and Maj. w. E. r.
-ovell. senior assistant Engineer
and Utilities Commits
sion attache. paid courtesy calls on
he new officials. Commissioner
was unable to join them,
rs he is confined in his home by
severe cold.
Mr.. ChiIdress and Mr.. Adams were
active candidates for the posts to
which they We're named. Both frankly
admitted today that they formally ap-
Piled for the positions in letters to
he President which outlined their
and then sought the in
luence of their friends to support
hem. Mr.. Mallan, however, declared
hat he did not seek the position of
peoples counsel. although he knew
le was being considered when the At
orney Generals Office inquired IL he
:ould take it. If appointed.
None of the new appointeeS would