Evening star., 1930-12-14

the Board of Public Works and governor Of
the District of Columbia, efficiently and
energeticaIly conducted the affairs of the Dis
trict that he endeared himself to ali who were
interested in the Identification and uplifting
Of Washington, and who lived to see his enemies
praising the good work he had done, which they
failed to see at the time. It was known as
the Shephe Centennial Building, and stood
until the Raleigh Hotel was erected some time
ago.
On the first floor of the Centennial Build
ing on the Twelfth street side, A. r. Shepherd
&c Co. conducted their plumbing and gas fitting
business the firm then consisting of A II.
Shepherd and Frank Jones. On the Avenue
side of the building we find, in 1875 George
Lisner selling fancy goods at lit. In 1879. We
find at the same number George Lisner and
Bro" the brother being Abraham LSner. In
1880 George Lisner had dropped out and Alb
raham LiSner was selling here furnishing
goods" and from time to time thereafter
gradually extended the business until he occu-
pied larger part of the building, before Mov-
ing uptown.
IRON 1876 to 1885 the Pension ONCE was
in the Centennial Building, and It was
here that Col w. w. Dudley served as COM
missioner and finally resigned that Office. The
commissioner the father Of my good
friend. Rev. George Fiske Dudley, rector Of
U. Z.
during his lifetime, when the church was
Fourteenth street, he taught a class in his sons
church.
The resignation of Col Dudley is noted in the
press of September %, 1884, which says:
"Col. w. w. Dudley, commissioner of PEN
SiOnS, sent in his resignation of that Office
last Saturday. The resignation is to take effect
November TO- and Col. Dudley will become the
resident partner in the banking house of Bate
man q Co. Mr.. Bateman spending a consider
able portion of his time in New York attending
to the business of the firm on the exchange in
that city
Col Dudley said yesterday that he had con-
templated this move for more than a year,
but he awaited the carrying out of certain
measures in the Pension Office in which he
was interested, and wftch Congressman were
supporting him in, before taking it. The fami-
lies of Col. Dudley and Mr.. Bateman have been
intimate for 19 years, the former living i'm
Indiana and the latter in Ohio Mr. Bateman
began business in Washington three years ago
with a capital of IS 900, and has succeeded SO
well that it is possible for Col Dudley to give
up $4,000 year Government position, as he
says for no other reason than to get a greater
yield from his hard work.
Col Dudley's administration Of the Pension
once has won for him national reputation
When President Garfield appointed him he in
structed him to reorganize the Office from the
ground up Col. Dudley followed the instruc-
tlons. The business of the Office has largely
increased and the force has been doubled since
Col. Dudley came in, thereby increasing his
responsibility greatly. Very soon after his ad-
ministration began the clerical force was re.
duced to 300 on account of insufficient an.
preparation, although it had been considerably
larger. He ran the Office under the eyes of
Congress for one year, and it was strong evil
dence OF the appreciation and confidence of
Congress that at the end of that time it doubled .
the force. giving him 1900 clerks with, which
to do the work. The addition of $50 speciaI
examiners, provided for at the last session.
makes force of 1,750. and makes the bureau
by far the largest in any of the departments:
Two specific and important changes were
made BY Col. Dudley almost Immediately
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