Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
Civic Organizations Against
Principle of Naming
Retired Army Man.
MANY DISTRICT BODIES
TO TAKE PART IN PROTEST.
Group Also Expected to Consider
Jones Bill and Express
Definite Stand.

WIN a rising tide or sentiment I'D
opposition to the principles involved iu
President Hoover's selection of an Army
officer as a District Commissioner, Eds
ward J. Murphy, president of the Board
of Trade. last night called an extraordi-
nary conclave of the heads Of Wash<
tngtons major trade and civic organi>
cations to discuss the issue.
Mr.. Murphy requested the heads Of
the organizations to meet with hind
Wednesday night in the Trade Board,a
new quarters in The Star Building for
a thorough discussion Of a situation
which he believes has robbed washins-
ton of its last vestige of home rule.a
The invitations were sent to Charlea
w. Darr, president of the Washington
Chamber OF Commerce; Maj. Gen.
Anton Stephan, president of the Mere
chants and Manufacturers Association
and Dr. George c. Havenner, president
OF the Federation Of Citizens Associas
tons.
Against Military Man.
Although there has been no indica-
ton whether definite action will b.
taken, two of the organizations-the
Chamber Of Commerce and the Board
OF !rade-have already advised the
PRESIDENT that they are opposed to the
appointment OF Maj. Gen. Herbert b.
crosby as successor to Commissioner
Proctor L. Dougherty on the ground
that ne Is an of1icer of the military
service and not a civilian.
The federation and the Merchants
ana Manufacturers Association have
mus Tar remained silent, although thu
former went on record q week ago in
opposition to the Jones bill which
would hberalize the residential restric-
lions OF appointees to the commissions
The criticism of the two trade organ.
izations Is not personaf-both of them
made it plain that their Opposition n
to the principle involved in the ap-
pointnlent Of Gen. Crosby. 1t was held
that the appointment would be cons
trary to the spirit IL not the letter on
the law requiring that two Of the ti1re@
members of the Board Of Commissions
ers be chosen from civilian life.
Not Representative.
The fact that Gen. Crosby is to rec
tire before he Is appointed commisa
sioner, is not satisfactory to the orr
CARNATIONS. It is their contention that
even though on the retired list hd
would still be an Army oficer and NOT
representative of the civilian life Of
Washington.
Aside from the issue involved in the
selection OF Gen. Crosby, the heads OF
to discuss the Jones bill, and take
definite stand in opposition to it.
Chamber Of Commerce Protest.
The Chamber of Commerce, in a let.
ter forwarded to the President yeSter$
day, stated that its members feel "that
the last remnants of local representas
ton in the government of the district
of Columbian the form of two aps
pointive civilian CommiSsionerS-should
be preserved.
AT their regular February meeting
the board of directors expressed tho
hope that the newspapers were incorrect
In reporting you as considering the aps
pointment of a gentleman at presents
an offcer in the Regular Army to the
position of Commissioner of the Dis
trict of Columbia" the letter read.
THE sentiment of these gentlemen
is based upon profound feeling that
the last remnants of local representa-.
ton IN the government OF the District
OF Columbian the form of two ap~
pointive civilian Commissioners--shou
be preserved and that such oficera
should be civilians In the sense GUS
tomarily understood and as construed
in Tyler VS.. United States, in which IL
was held that retired officers are to be
regarded as continuing in military
service.
ASperSiOnS Lack Basis.
1T is their belief, further, that as
PERSONS recently cast upon the City OF
Washington-with reference in particS
ul4r to crime conditions-lack any subs
stantial basis of fact and that tho
abandonment now OF time honored cus~
tom in the appointment of civilians
Commissioners would tend to clothd
such aspersions with an appearance on
truth which they in reality do not pos~
SeSS.
I'm view of these sentiments of our
board we write respectfully to urge In
their name and at their request that
the appointment in question receiva
your consideration before it is made
final"
The Trades UnioniSt official organ OF
the Central Labor Union, yesterday
contained first-page editorial attack
ing President Hoover's decision to ap.
point Gen. Crosby and pointing out the
political serfdom" Of the residents OF
fha niefrinf