Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28

IN retrospect, 1880 was year Of
peace and tranquility for the District
government, in marked contrast to the
preceding three years of turmoil, IN
teTnal disturbances and congressional
Investigations. Progress and achieve
ments were not submerged under clouds
of sensational charges against munic-
ipal department heads, and shared,
therefore, their proper place in the
history of the development OF the Ma
tion'S Capital,
Outstanding in the development of
the past IL months was complete
change in the administrative personnel
of the District government, which In
itself constituted stabilizing influence
on the disturbing conditions which had
existed. The entire Board CT Commits
sioners was replaced, and with the new
officials there came new blood also IN
the ranks, Of the assistant engineer
commissioners.
Three New Commissioners.
Two of the former Commissioners,
Proctor L. Dougherty and Sidney F.
Taliaferro, went out of Office stimuli
taneously, and in their places PreSi-
dent Hoover put Maj. Gen. Herbert B.
Crosby, former chief of Cavalry, and
Or. Luther H Reichelderfer. retired
physician, who has long been prom
inent in Washington. And a few
months later Col. William B. Ladue, the
Engineer Commissioner, gave way to
Mai. John C.. GotwalS, who had just
finished his assignment as district en-
sineer of the Army at st. Louis.
Gen. Crosby's appointment was pre-
Oeded by one of the most vigorous cam
paignS of opposition ever initiated by
the voicelesS residents Of the District
against q nominee for commissioner
ship--a protest free Of perSonalism, but
predicated on the theory that the re-
tired chief Of Cavalry was legally in
eligible to serve; that his selection
would be contrary to the spirit If not
the letter of the Districts organic law
which provides that two of the Com
miSsioners shall be chosen from civil
ranks. The washington Chamber of
Commerce, Board of Trade and other
groups, including organized labor of the
District, opposed Gen Crosby's appoint
ment on the ground that he was q
military man, irrespective Of his retired
status In the Army. But the fight was
futile.
Leave Proud Records.
Gen. Crosby was appointed and sub
eeuuently confirmed by the Senate, and
he took ONCE April 10, along with his
colleague, DR.. Reichelderfer. At the
same time Dougherty and Taliaferro,
who had been holding office beyond the
expiration Of their respective terms on
February 4, at the request OF the PreSi-
dent, left the District Building to take
ND duties in civil life-Dougherty to
become director Of the Eyesight Con-
servatiOn Commission and Taliaferro to
become vice president Of Riggs Ma
These two officials left behind a
proud record of achievements and fast
fading memories of the turmoil and
disturbances of the early days of their
administration. It was perhaps fate
that brought them into ofice TO face
q period that developed into one OF the
mos. disturbing in the history or the
District government. but they left
happy in the thought that peace and
quiet had been restored, and that their
successors took over q smooth func-
tioaing machine.
1t was July, however, before the re-
organization of the Board Of Commits
sioners was completed. Engineer COM
missioner Ladue finished the tenure OF
his assignment and left for q new post
on the West Coast, and Maj. Gotwals
came to Washington from st. Louis TO
succeed him.
Mai. RObb Comes Here.
In the meantime, an important
change had taken place in the stan OF
the engineer officers detailed to assist
Col. Ladue. Maj. Layson E. Atkins, an
assistant engineer commissioner, who
also had finished his assignment In