The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1930-02-18
JOURNAL
HITS CROSBY
FOR POST
CONTINUED from Page ~

/ discussion on the naming OF Gen
eral Crosby to succeed Commits
sioner Proctor L. Dougherty, was
nothing to be compared with the
next session. March /, If present
indications are borne out.
will Study Question
DR.. George c. Havenner, preSi-
dent of the federation and an
employe of the Bureau Of Eff
cheney, who is believed to lean to-
ward the appointment, today
again reiterated his stand on at
tendance at the meeting called
by the Washington Board of
Trade for tomorrow. That stand
is to the effect that the fedora
ton not having acted he cannot
with propriety attend the meeting.
The federation head admitted
this morning that he has re-
ceived a number Of resolutions,
some favorable to the naming Of
General Crosby and few antag-
oniStic. Under the circumstances
he indicated that he will name q
committee to study the matter
and to bring in its report at the
meeting March l..
With the majority Of delegates
to the federation being in the Gov
eminent service 1t is not deemed
likely by pro-Crosby delegates that
any antagonistic resolutions will
be carried. 1t only requires a
majority vote of course to pass
any resolution.
mot q Civilian"
The editorial follows:
ELIGIBILITY NOT ABILITY
The Secretary Of War on Mon
day issued a statement defending
the proposed appointment of Maj.
Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, U. S. A.,
as one of the two civilian COM
missioners Of the District Of Co
lumbia.
Mr.. Hurley based his comments
on the ability" of General
| SIOoOy, do 1CouAC Va AlAo AOAlS
military training. to discharge
the duties of the office. It did
not require this memorandum
from the Secretary of War in de-
Tense ~ the appointment Of Army
officers to civil office to justify
the selection of General Crosby
as one of the two Commissioners
from civil life" Of the District
Of Columbia.
In the first place, that officer
is not eligible for any civil office
that the law requires shall De
occupied by civilian"
An officer on the retired list
of the Army is not a civilian, and
that is a block to the appoint
ment, regardless Of whatever view
may have been furnished the
President and attributed in press
statements as coming from the
Attorney General. General Crosby
has very fine Army record and
is qualified, in every way and to
an unusual degree. to undertake
any important civil occupation.
However. the Revised Statutes
set forth the laws with regard to
the qualifications Of the Commits
SionerS Of the District of Colum-
bia and specifically state that the
position to which it is proposed
to appoint General Crosby must
be filled by civilian"
The only question, then, for
| coYa cidoro tioya 10 uyhahhar ca~orol
Crosby, when he goes on the re-
tired list next month, is to be
considered a civilian
Quotes Statutes
Then follow excerpts from the
Revised Statutes and from deci.
sions of Comptroller General Nc
Carl dealing with the status of
retired officers, all indicating that
they remain under military juris-
diction, and is ineligible for the
District commiSSionerShip.
/ The statement of the Secretary
OF War may serve its purpose in
allaying the alarm that. abSurdly
enough, attaches itself to the ap-
pOintment to civil office Of a man
of military training. Many such
are admirably equipped by expert
ence and career properly and
profitably to fill the office and
discharge its duties.
Secretary Hurley rightfully re-
marks that military training in
stills leadership, discipline, un-
questioned obedience to higher
authority, the entire Submergence
of self in the interests of common
good. These qualities are as ad-
mirable in civil as in military
] officials" All of which Is true
enough, but all Of which, also, is
beside the point, beyond that
which it relieves in an erroneous
public impression.
The thing to do is to make it
possible to appoint General
Crosby by legislation, If it is the
Presidents judgement that he
should be appointed. which it
may well be. The question could
not be settled or attempt at set
Element could not be based on
the theory that an Army officer
is civilian and is not still in
cluded in the army,