Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-27
CHILDRESS QUITS 4
UTILITIES BOARD
TO TAKE NEW POST

Continued From First Page)
: states Lines for the District of Column
bia. Maryland and Virginia. He will
maintain his headquarters at 1927
Connecticut avenue.
After the White House revealed that
It had received the resignation. Mr.
. Childress issued a statement in which
. he expressed regret that he is leaving
the commission before the constructive
matters pending before 1t are settled
Expresses His Regret.
ION yesterday I rendered my resigna-
. ton to the President as a member OF
the Public Utilities Commission, to take
effect at the convenience OF the PreSi-.
dent" said the statement. but With
: the suggestion that by May 81 I would
be able TO clear up the matters OF I'M
pertance in this office which require
my personal attention.
II have found the work on this COM
. mission during the past two years most
interesting and congenial, and feel
that there is yet much TO be done OF
constructive nature in connection With
the matters which have come up since
my appointment by President Coolidge,
and I dislike to leave before all such
, matters are settled. On the other
I hand, do not feel that I can AFFORD
to sacrifice my personal interests by
continuing further in the public sery-
ice, so I have decided to resign and
accept the offer which has just been
made me by Mr.. Joseph E. Sheedy, ex-
ecutive vice president OF the United
States Lines, Inc, to become that COM
pany's general agent and representative
in Washington covering the territory
~ ia nfefTiFt C6If1f11l1tQ
Virginia.
My decision to enter the transporta-
ton business was reached after / con-
cluded that the newly created United
States Liner vii be an important factor
In the re-estabiisfment Of this indus
try in the United States, placing 1t on
a plane commensurate with Its i'm
portance to the Nation.
with additional tonnage planned and
with the efficient and experienced super
vision of the new management Of the
United States Lines, / am confident
that the American merchant marine,
backed by the American people. is on
the threshold Of a new era and that
such connection will prove most in
teresting as well as permanent"
Named by Coolidge.
Appointed by President Coolidge In
January, 1927, as one Of the two civilian
members Of the new and Independent
commission Mr.. Childress has Leen an
outstanding figure in she epoehal
events in public utility affairs In the
last two years.
AS chairman, Mr.. Childress directed
the commission when 1t readjusted tele-
phone. electricity and motor bus rates
and successfully delayed an attempt TO
rafaa farce Tha ram m tQsioF'a
most notable achievement during his
regime, however. was the approval Of q
plan for merging the transportation
lines OF the DistFict--an improvement
persistently sought for more than 20
years.
Politically Mr.. Chiidress Is q Demo.
erat. and his success in getting an APP
pointment TO the new commission after
It's creation was due largely TO the in
fuence Of the Tennessee delegation In
Congress whose support he solicited.
Quite unlike other candidates for the
post, he frankly admitted he applied to
the White House for the position, and
then went out and mustered political
support.
Wanted Something 10 Do.
At the time Of his appointment Mr.
Chlldress said ne sought the position
because OF QeHIe 70 RSL something 10
do" His duties with the Emerson
Pump Il Valve Co in Alexandra. Va,
which he owned. he said. did not keep
him busy enough. Il found myself
playing golf three and four days q
week" he said THAT is not good for
a man. A person gets old too quickly
II ne doesn't have something 10 keep
his mind occupied"
Born in Murphysboro, Tenn. the
scene Of q famous Civil War battle
February Is, 1879. the son Ct Judge
John w Childress and Mary l.. Chill
dress, Mr.. Childress received his early
education in the Webb School Of Bell
buckle. Tenn. and later attended South
western University After graduating
frem that institution ne went to Prince.
ton University TO take an academic
course and left In his sophomore veal
70 60 10 Nashville. Tenn.
While in Nashville Mr.. Chi'dress met
Miss Rita Ridgely OF this city anC
romance brought him 10 Washington
He married her in 1904. They look NJ
their residence here and now Ike al
1900 Twentieth street, with their TIVE
daughters. Charlotte Ridgeiy Chi!dres
and Adair Ridgely ChildreSS.
AS soon as ne reached Washington
Mr. Childress went into the real estat
business and was active IN that fclG
until 1915. when he purchased th'
pump aud valve company IN AieXan
driA Although he has 'dabbiFi OFT =