Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-06

Exceptional perplexities and embar-
easements appear to attach to appoint
ments to membership on the inter-
state Commerce Commission in recent
years. Mr.. Coolidge had his share and
Mr.. Hoover seems to be having more
than his share. Seldom Is a President
faced with the task of deciding as to
three of the nine places on the COM
mission, all at one time. That has
been Mr.. Hoover's problem these last
few weeks. The reappointment OF
Commissioner Eastman proved no easy
decision, though a decision which the
country loudly acclaimed. Having con-
cluded not to reappoint Commissioner
Taylor of Alabama, a Coolidge selec-
ton, the President wrestled long with
the field of aspirants, @nally to noml-
nate Robert M. Jones OF Tennessee,
upon the urgent recommendation OF
Republican National Chairman Huston.
The Senate SHE'D away from immediate
confirmation and, for reasons best
known to himself, Mr.. Jones has now
declined the appointment. Meantime
the resignation of Commissioner Camp
bell is announced. Candidates from
Southern territory whose hopes were
dashed when the Jones nomination
went to the Senate have taken new
heart, and candidates from the Rocky
Mountain States have appeared as II
by magic for the place vacated by
Mr.. Campbell. In this situation Mr..
Hoover Is keeping his own counsel
and the Senate, which will act as final
arbiter, Is watchfully waiting.
* Y X
Senator Couzens will take the first
opportunity to correct the statement he
made in the Senate last month when
the confirmation of Interstate Com
merce Commissioner Joseph b. Eastman
of Massachusetts, was up, to the erect
that Mr.. Eastman was a Democrat
had always been a Democrat" and had
consistently voted for Democratic pres1-
Dental nominees. The commissioner
has written Senator CouzenS that he
is not a Democrat, never was a Demo-
crat and has always been an "lnde-
pendent" in politics, voting Tor what
ever candidates most nearly stood Tor
Eastmans own views. AS proof OF his
independence Mr.. Eastman in his letter
to Senator CouZenS cites the TACT that
he voted for La Toilette in 1924. Except
for 1924 1t appears that he has voted
for the Democratic nominee. Senator
Couzens, in vouching for Eastman's po-
litical affiliations in the first instance
relied on White House Information,
which was emphatically to the effect
that the commissioner was Democrat
X X X 4
ELOQUENT testimony to the Importance
and magnitude of the contemplated
operations of the Farmers National
Grain Corporation is contained in the
announcement that the salary of the
corporations general manager, William
c. Kellogg of Minneapolis, will be $780,
600 per annum. In the light of the
congressional state of mind when
dealing with COMPENSATION of business
executives engaged for Government
service, Mr.. Kellogg may have rea-
son to congratulate himself that his
stipend Is beyond congressional reach.
However, If and when the operations
of the Farm Board through its financed
and supervised sales corporations come
under congressional fire a $4,000 SAL
airy is sure to be shining target.
* y
Along with the sending of Nelson T.
Johnson, veteran OF the State Depart
ment service at home and abroad. to
China as United States Minister, other
important shifts in our representation
in China are slated at this important
juncture in Far Eastern affairs. Col
Nelson E. Margetts has been named
Col Walter S. Drysdale is the newly
appointed commander of the American
garrison at TientSin. Col. Margetts is
Of the Field Artillery branch and Col
Drysdale Of Infantry. Minister john
! son has taken his farewells Of Wash
| ington and Is now en- route to the West
Coast to set sail across the Pacific later
| this month.
ohservant visitors are reported 10
: have dstected . Encouragement IN thu