Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-25
Subcommittee Unanimous in
Urging 0. K. for TaIiaferro
and Proctor Dougherty.
PRESIDENT IS SEEKING
SUBSTITUTE FOR MALLAN
Rejected Nominee Agrees That
Criticisms Would Have
Hampered Efficiency.

The special subcommittee of the
Senate District committee to which
they were referred ordered favorable
report today to the full committee on
the nominations of Proctor L. Dough-
erty and Sidney f. Tauaferro to be
District Commissioners.
The report was unanimous.
While this action was being taken
at the Capitol, the President was cast
ing about today for another nominee
to substitute for Blaine Mallan, whose
nomination as peoples counsel of the
newly created Public Utilities Commits
sion was withdrawn yesterday after
noon. There were no indications as
to the Presidents choice, the only
statement of his spokesman today be-
ing that the field is being thoroughly
canvessed.
Vote Was Unanimous.
After the meeting of the subcom-
mittee of the Senate District commit
tee today, 1t was learned that the vote
was unanimous on favortng the con-
firmation of Mr.. Dougherty and Mr..
Taliaferro, now serving as District
Commissioners under recess appoint
AAACAANos 4AAO A1AOAAOh W
confirmation was made ey Senator
King, Democrat, of Utah. The other
members Of the subcon1snittee are
Senators Jones, Republican. of Wash
ington, and Sackett, Rersbican, of
Kentucky.
The subcommittee probably will
make its report to the entire COM
mittee within a few days and it is
practically certain the recommenda.
ton will be concurred in.
Senator King, at whose request the
appointments were referred to a sub
committee, is reported to have ques-
toned the Commissioners as to their
general experience for the office and
also as to the views they hold on i'm
portant municipal problems, such as
coming.
Answers Made Impression.
1t is understood the answers given
to the questions put to them made a
favorable impression on the subcom-
mittee.
Although the withdrawal of Mr.. Nal.
lan's name came only yesterday, It
was stated at the White House today
that the President already is canvass
ing the field for another nominee to
take his place. Other than this state
ment, the President formally declined
to answer questions relating to the
cause for his action in withdrawing
the Mallan nomination. From other
sources 1t was learned, however, that
publication of the fact that a charge
of driving while intoxicated, preferred
against Mr.. Mallan about three years
ago, has never come to trial, was the
immediate cause of the Presidents
action.
President Coolidge withdrew Mr..
Mallan's name yesterday afternoon
following a brief conference with At
torney General Sargent. In the brief
message to the Senate the President
made no reference to his reasons for
withdrawing the name. President
Coolidge's conference with Mr. Sar-
gent, however, followed an earlier one
between representative of the De-
partment Of Justice and Mr.. Mallan,
during the course Of which it was de-
cided that for the best interest Of all
concerned the nomination had best be
withdrawn. Mr.. Mallan himself de-
clined to make formal statement,
but said informally that he considered
the Presidents action well advised, in
asmuch as he felt that his future serv-
ices already had been impaired by the
continued criticism which followed his
nomination.
Fight Was Not Personal.
When Mr. Mallan was nominated
many citizens associations adopted
resolutions deploring the appointment,
directed not so much against Mr.. NAL
Ian personally, but voicing the senti-
ment of the members that the Prest-
dent had deliberately slighted the in
dorsement given by the citizens to
William NICK. Clayton, who volun-
tarily had served for many years as
their representative in public utility
matters.
The ng-while-intoxicated charge
against Mr.. Mallan was made by police
three years ago, following an accident
on Connecticut avenue. Mr.. Mallan
ran off the road, his machine turning
over and rolling down an embank-
ment. Mr.. Mallan was dazed
from the accident, but not seriously
hurt. A charge was made by
police of driving while intoxicated.
MIR. Mallan said that he had been IN
formed by the corporation counsel's
office that the charge had been dropped
because of insufficient evidence, and
the incident was brought up and con-
sidered during the examination Of Mr..
Mallan by the Presidents advisers
previous to his nomination.