Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-11
Crosby and ReicheIderfer to
Act Only Upon Practical
Considerations.
STUDY OF POLICE FORCE
TO PRECEDE DECISIONS
New Officials to Consult Subordi-
mates Familiar With Affairs.
Call on President.

The practical side of every public
question will be thoroughly analysed
before any changes are made in the
policies Of the municipal government,
DR., Luther H. Reichelderfer and Maj.
Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, the Districts
new Commissioners, announced today
as they undertook a study of the func-
lions Of the various organizations
under their respective supervision.
Positive assurance was given by both
Commissioners that their administra-
ton would not be nodded on theoreti-
cal fantasies, but that the policies in
troduced by them would have practi-
cal, workable basis. The new Commits
sioners also take the position that it
would be extremely unwise to make
any changes until careful study is
made of the problems which confront
| them.
II want to get at the practical side
before making anything but necessary
decisions" said Gen. Crosby. Theories
are all right if they work out in
practice, but ! have found that some
times theories are not practical" DR..
Reichelderfer said the same policy
would govern his actions.
Has Begun Police Study.
Gen. Crosby disclosed that prior to
taking Office he made superficial study
of the Police Department, over which
i'm hut ,kaI
that his knowledge of this important
organization was merely theoretical
since he had gained it through reading
reports and the transcript of hearings
before congressional committees. He
indicated, however, that he has no
definite plans at this time for carrying
out President Hoover's pronounced de-
sire that Washington be made a model
for the Nation in law enforcement.
Through conferences with the heads
OF the departments over which they
have administrative control, Commits
SlonerS Reichelderfer and Crosby plan
to learn the problems of the municipal
government and work out with them a
practical solution. They look upon the
advice OF the department heads, many
OF whom are veterans in the service as
an invaluable asset in bringing about
any improvements that may follow.
They also believe the knowledge of Dis
trict affairs of their colleague, Engineer
Commissioner William B. Ladue, will be
beneficial in shaping their respective
policies.
The department heads and their as
Slstants met the new Commissioners for
the first time at an informal reception
at 10 o'clock this morning in the office
OF DR.. Reichelderfer. More than 100 of
these officials were introduced to DR..
Relchelderfer and Gen. Crosby by
Daniel E. Garges, secretary to the Board
OF Commissioners.
Pay Respect to Hoover.
With these formalities over, DR..
Reichelderfer and Gen. Crosby con-
ferred over several impending routine
questions, and made arrangements to
go to the White House at 2:30 O'Clock
this afternoon to pay their respects to
the President. The visit it was said,
was courtesy call.
Both DR.. Reichelderfer and Gen. Cros-
! by have retained the secretaries who
served former Commissioners Proctor L.
| Dougherty and Sidney F. Taliaferro.
| Ralph Norton, Dougherty's secretary, is
serving Commissioner Crosby, and Ross
Haworth, whom Taliaferro appointed
as his secretary when he took Office, is
continuing in this capacity for Dr.
Reichelderfer.
No steps have been taken by the new
| Commissioners to reorganize the de-
I partments under their supervision, al
though there is likelihood that sew
eral changes may be made in the near
| future. DR.. Reichelderfer, it is believed,
may take over the Health Department,
which is now under the Jurisdiction of
Gen. Crosby, which would give his SUI
pervision over all medical charities.
In taking the post left vacant by
Taliaferro, DR.. Reichelderfer assumed
| supervision over the Board of Public
| Welfare, as well as the corporation
counsel's Office, the playground depart
ment, the auditors Office, the tax coll
lector's Office, the tax assessors Office,
and the Office of the superintendent OF
| insurance.
Aside from having supervision over
the Police, Fire and Health Depart
ments, Gen. Crosby is the administrative
| head of the traffic department, the De-
| partment of Weights, Measures and
Markets and the Office of the superin-
| tendent of licenses.