Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-19

A6b a6OD
Georgia Avenue and Columbia Heights
Business Mems Associations.
Opinion among several Of those lead
ing the opposition against Gen. Crosby
is that any action which would tend to
antagonize the President should De
avoided, so confident are they that ht
will not send his nomination to tnt
Senate in the face of existing conditions
Three Of the Organizations that have
representatives in the conference group
1t was pointed out, already have taken
the first step to show their sentiment
by opposing the appointment. thus plac-
ing Mr.. Hoover in q position to make
the next move.
Two courses of action are open, 1t
was said, if the President appoints
Gen. Crosby. One is to wage q vigor-
Gus campaign to preclude confirmation
by the Senate. The other is to test
in the courts the legality of the ap-
pointment should it be made. Neither
of these moves, however, is contem-
plated at this time.
The Army and Navy Register, fol-
the second time in the last two weeks
gives editorial support. in the current
issue, to the contention of President
Darr of the Chamber of Commerce
that Gen. Crosby is ineligible to become
a civilian Commissioner. Six decisions
Of Controller General McCarl are cited
to uphold the contention that Gen
Crosby will not be a civilian upon his
retirement March 81.
THE Secretary Of War on Monday is
sued q statement defending the pro-
posed appointment of Maj. Gen. Her
bert B. Crosby, u. s. A., as one of the
two civilian Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia" said the editorial
Mr.. Hurley based his comments on
the ability of Gen. Crosby, rs a result
Of his long military training, to dis
charge the duties + the ONCE. It did
not require this memorandum from the
Secretary of War in defense of the APP
pointment of Army officers to civil Of
fee to justify the selection of Gen
Crosby as one of the two Commission
ers from civil live Of the District OF
Columbia.
I'm the first place, that oficer is not
eligible for any civil ONCE that the
law requires shall be occupied by q
civilian An of1cer on the retired list
of the Army is not q civilian, and that
is block to the appointment, regard
less OF whatever view may have been
furnished by the President and at
tributed in press statements as coming
AAOAAA bAlC AbIOL1lCy SCHGIdl.
Gen. Crosby has a fine Army record
and is qualified in every way and tc
an unusual degree to undertake any
important civil position. However, the
revised statutes set forth the laws with
regard to the qualifications Of the Com
missioners of the District of Columbis
and specifically state that the position
to which it is proposed to appoint Gen
Crosby must be filled by Civilian
The Vincent B. Costello Post of the
American Legion came to the defense
Of Gen. Crosby last night by adopting
resolution describing the criticism OF
such an able officer" as unjust.
The resolution, introduced by Mai
Gen. William Nicholson, declared thai
Presidents of the United States
through their appointive powers, have
always selected able men to serve a.
Commissioners of the District of Co.
lumbia" and that 1--WE resent the unjust
criticism against such an able of1lcel
and distinguished American as Mai
Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, he being q
military man."