Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-13
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

There is not little chin-wagging
(and eyebrow-raising over the demotion
of Judge E. C. Finney from the First
! Assistant Secretaryship Of the Interior
Department to the solicitorship In DR..
| Ray Lyman Wilbur's bailiwick. He Is
| the oldest ranking official in the depart
ment. with q record Of practically IS
years continuous service. Since 1909
| status there. Politicians are gossip1ng
because the announcement OF his
l transfer was almost simultaneous with
President Hoover's authorized statement
| intimating that directing heads" OF
Government departments who had given
honest and jealous service" were not
going to be disturbed. The impression
! created by the White House manifesto
was that the only men separated from
the Federal pay roll would be those who
| craved to get on fatter pay roll In
private life.
Exactly what happened to Finney has
| yet to be disclosed-except that Secre-
| tary Wilbur sent for him suddenly and
told him his successor had been select
| ed. His friends understand that steps
we're taken to prevent Finney'S suffer-
| CATION to lower rank. but some OF them
! feel he has been unfairly treated. Their
resentment is not softened by the fact
! that he is displaced by a lame duck
former Gov. Joe" Dixon of Montana.
| 1t may be that President Hoover wants
to rid the Interior Department OF all
reminders of Teapot Dome. Finney
! functioned at Falls orders. in the oil
lease transactions, but emerged with a
personally spotless bill of health. Vice
President Curtis, National Chairman
Work, Senator Capper and other infiu-
entail Republicans are said to have
Assistant Secretary. He is the foremost
authority in the country on public lands.
Lawyers say that Representative Hat
ton w. Summers, Democrat OF Texas.
made before the Supreme Court this
week one of the finest pleas the bench
has listened to In many day. He APP
peared as the ranking minority member
of the House judiciary committee to ar
que against the legality Of the pocket
| veto"-the system by which the Presi-
dent can procrastinate an act of Con-
gress into existence. The court
was deeply interested in Summers de-
livery, amid a typical Southern draWl
OF a series Of uncommonly well mar
shaled facts and arguments. Summers
is entering upon his ninth term In the
House from the big Dallas district.
Xxx
II there weren't bad blood between
them Clifford Pinchot would be logical
choice for the Craftsmanship Of Presi-
dent Hoovers impending law enforce
ment board of inquiry. The former
Governor of Pennsylvania captured the
Keystone State In 1922 on straight
out law enforcement platform. defying
and defeating the Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh bosses on the allied and as
ISOLATED issues of prohibition and cleo
ton frauds. Pinchot. who Is about to
embark on an adventurous voyage to
the South Seas In all old-fashioned
| schooner, was member of the Food Ad-
ministratiOn during the war. but Hoover
and he didn't hit 1t off and since then
have never ranked as friends. The
President. moreover, would hardly be
likely to offer a big job to 70 inveterate
foe of Uncle Andy" Mellon as the
pestiferous Pinchot.
Representative-elect Oscar De Priest,
Republican. OF Illinois. the colOred mem
Der Of the incoming Congress. may find
himself invited to stand aside" when
Speaker Longworth administers the
oa tn to new members In April. At least,
| suggestions to that effect are now float
ing about Capitol Hill They relate to
certain indictments pending against Mr..
De Priest in Chicago which preceded
his succession TO the late Martin b.
Madden's congressional seat. Mr.. DE
Priest came 10 Washington just before
the recent adjournment. He exercised
the privilege Of visiting the Senate and
House floors and OH Inauguration day.
in the Senate chamber, he stood among
the governors and distinguished visitors
clustered behind the Senate section.
The Chicago Negro is an imposing fig
ure, with prematurely grayish hair
which accentuates his swarthy conf
| plexion.
n
In Col. Henry L.. Stimson. President
Hoover will have at his right hand one
of his Belgian relief co-Workers. The
incoming Secretary of State was not In
the field with Hoover In Europe. but
served in an even more effective capac-
ity In the United States. Back In 1915,
n the early days Of the Belgian relief.
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Y.