Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16
Character and Qualifications
of Presidents Nominees to
Be Studied Thoroughly.
SELECTIONS BRANDED
"REBUFF" TO PEOPLE
Action Furnishes Strong Argument
in Favor of Suffrage for Capital,
Says Charles Stengle.

pointees to the new Public Utilities
Commission and the peoples counsel,
and report its findings direct to the
Senate District committee.
This rather unusual action by the
federation followed a comparatively
brief but spirited discussion over the
appointments, which was epitomized
by Louis Gelbman of the Congress
Heights Citizens Association as a
rebuff to the people Of the District
of Columbia"
He ridiculed the qualifications or
the Presidents selections.
The investigation of the appointees
was approved in connection with a
report by the law and legislation COM
mittee, which voiced an emphatic
protest" against the men named as
members of the commission and
urged that President Coolidge with
draw the nominations.
Based on Brightwood Action.
The report was a resolution adopted
by the Brightwood Citizens Associa.
ton which expressed the belief that
the President had been "n1isled by
those on whom he relied as to these
nominations" as we'll as doubt as
to the qualifications Of the three men
named properly to discharge the duties
of the ofices ito the satisfaction OF the
people Of the District"
Unanimous consent was given for
the consideration of the resolution.
which was submitted by Charles L
Stengle, chairman of the committee.
He declared that he viewed with
alarm" the appointment OF the three
men and pointed out that the District
had no stronger argument for enfran.
chisement than the fact that the
President ignored the voice OF the
people as expressed throuEh 1ts orgaA-
x determined eftors was made By
George r. Wales and snowdeu Ashs
taking any action In regard TO the ap.
pointrnents. Mr.. Wales characteristic
the proposed move al s.most inappro-
pirate" and moved to lay the report
on the table, but the motion went
down to an overwhelming defeat. Mr..
Ashford admonished the federation
that 1t was launching on a very
dangerous ground"
Havenner Starts Debate.
Debate over the resolution was pre-
cipitated when George c. Havenner
moved that 1t be referred back to the
law and legislation committee, with
instructions that inquiry be made into
the fitness and character Of the APP
pointees. Mr.. Havenner'S motion,
which prevailed, also gave the COM
mittee full authority TO present its
findings before Senator Capper's COM
mittee.
A forerunner to the federation's
action came at the outset of the meet.
ing in another report submitted by
the law and legislation COMMITTEES
which opposed the proposed abolition
of the three-year residence require
ment for appointment as District
Commissioner. The report, which was
adopted, declared that the committee
sis not at all impressed with the sug.
gestion that it is impossible to secure
the best material from which to name
Commissioner while the three-year
residence restriction remains on the
statute books.
while it is true that a half a
million of the Nations best citizens
are being unjustly deprived of their
blood-bought right to vote and thus
become active participants in the
selection of those officers who are to
manage the public business" the re-
port continued, I'VE still have among
our number men and women OF suffi.
cient experience, ability and character
to honor any public Office to which
they may be appointed to reflect
credit upon any President who may
recognize their sterling worth.
Ready to Submit Names.
"a graduate of this federation is at
this time filling the office OF Com
missioner most acceptably, and we
have others equally as able and effi.
cient who stand ready to serve when
called upon. Your committee regards
the continual published statement
that the President is harnpered and
handicapped in making good selec.
tions of Commissioners by the three
year restriction clause as a. reflection
upon the good name OF our peopla
who have given undivided allegiance
and loyalty to the District of Colum.
bia and have not elected to enjoy our
benefits and still claim residence else.
where"
If the President and those who as.
sist him are unable to find first-class
material for public Offices in the Dis1
trict, the report concluded, the fedora.
ton stands ready to submit the names
of q score or more.
The federation, after considerable
ADOPTED a report or It's CONT
mittee on fiscal relations, submitted
by William s. Torbert. recommending
the creation Of a. commission to in4
quire into and report upon the fiscal
relations between the Federal and Dis.
trict governments. The debate cen.
tered chiefly over a provision which
would make the commission perTnas
nent, but this was ultimately striken
out by an amendment, which was
adopted by a record vote Of "a to 10.
The report was further amended 50
as to place three bona fide residents
Of the District on the commission.
Parks Report Recommitted.
A joint report Of the committees ON
education and highways, parks and
opposing the proposal to
employ a landscape architect and as.
sistants to beautify the grounds and
to the public schools was
by a vote of % to 16.
The report described such a plan az
sunwise" in view of the fact that the
school Fairgrounds already are made.
luate, and that not more than q hale
Continued on Page 2, Column 9