Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-01
CROSBY OPPONENTS
GIVE TESTIMONY TO
BAR CONFIRMATION
Spokesman of Local Organ
ization Questions Right of
Retired Officer to Serve.
DR.. RElCHELDERFER GIVEN
COMMITTEES APPROVAL
Legal Arguments offered Against
Nominee for District
Commissioner.

After approving promptly the nomin-
alton of DR.. Luther Reichelderfer to
be one of the new District Commission
ers, the Senate District committee to-
day heard legal arguments as to whether
Mai. Gen. Herbert B. Crosby is eligible
for the other commissionership as
retired Army officer.
Frequent verbal exchanges between
members of the committee and witnesses
marked the morning session, while
Charles w. Darr, president OF the
Chamber of Commerce was presenting
the legal grounds on which a group
~ local organizations believed re-
tJrad Army oficer is not eligible 10 DC
cns ri the Commissioners appointed
from civil life within the meaning Oh
the Districts organic law OF 1873. =
Emphasizing that the oppositlon -
directed In no way at Gen. CIoSpy pc.
eonally, but solely on the oenen Lna r.. .
retired Army ofhcer Is not englDls, VA - ;
Darr concluded his lengthy ciVaUion "a
opinions by declaring:
Spokesman for Organizations.
sff this was simply question OF the
--rr-s General I would not be here now,
Is,t arr jealous of the right OF the
oeonie Of washington to have two oona
Hde District Of Columbia RESIDENTS IN
The ofices of civilian commissioner.
Mr.. Darr presented the iegai aLsu
rnents on the question OF eLglDI"y az
spokesman for the Board OF ttaus, S..e
%tove rharnher of Commerce, the CenCraI
tabor union, the Georgia Avenue busi-
11ess Mems Association ana Columola
Heirhts Business Mems Assoclatlon.
several times while Mr.. Darr was
n,,otinr from laws and court opinions
relating to the difference between re-
tired ofacers and reserve ofncers, ne Was
interrupted from the rear OF the roonl
by Mai Harry D. Murray, 2 reserxs ~
airy oficer. who challenged the diStinc-
tinns MI. Darr was drawing between the
two classes OF officers.
vandenberg Disagrees.
The testimony Of Mr.. DarT Wes
marked also by frequent colleagues VIII
Senator Vanderberg, Representative o.
Michigan, who cited the opinion OF tne
eiiribility of Gen. Crosby as against the
citations quoted by the witness.
Senator Copeland, Democrat, OF New
Work had TO leave the hearing early
and told Chairman Capper ne WanCeu
IA vote AGAINST Gen. Crosby II the COM
fr1fttee took action today. Senator Cope
land made it clear that his position also
was based entirely on the legal grouno
al eligibility and not because OF the
nominee personally.
while summarizing the position Mr..
Darr defended Washington against re-
oorts TO the effect that the city Is crime
ridden. which brought a quick retort
from Senator Blease, Democrat, OF
SoI,th Carolina, who has frequently de-
cIared in the Senate that crime Is ram
pant here.
Asks About Others.
Senator Vanderberg had asked Mr..
Darr earlier II he admitted that retired
Army officers are eligible for appoint
f,nenf to other civil posts under the
United States, except diplomatic. IN
closing his testimony Mr.. Darr replied
he saw no legal obstacle to placing re-
tired Army oficers in other positions III
the District, but that the foundation oil
ali the arguments regarding the COM
raissionership is the act of 1873, setting
forth the qualifications for that once
When Mr.. Darr admitted retired Army
officers would be eligible for other civil
positions Senator Vanderberg made this
Observation:
officers serving the District OF Column
hia."
MIR. Darr replied by again pointing
out his opposition was directed solely
# eligibility and not on personal
grounds. He also vigorously contended
that there can be found bona noe
civilians In the District of Columbia
who would I'LL the office OF Commits
sioner ably.
Tired of Crime.
GAS president of the Chamber Of
Commerce" Mr.. Darr declared, II have
read until / am heartily sick about
crime in the District of Columbia, and
that it needs a superman. /, for one,
believe we have a competent chief of
police and a police force capable OF
handling the situation If given
chance"
Mr.. Darr added that there may be
an influx of bootleggers and other law
V1olators, but that they come here from
outside.
wherever they come from they are
annoying" Senator Vandenberg said.
"If you read the Record tomorrow or
the next day you will find some more
about crime" Senator Blease replied
"You have more crime in your city
than any city in the world"
At the outset of the meeting Senator
Jones, Republican, of Washington, said
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