Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-03
Cavalry Chiefs Qualifications
Studied by President
Hoover.
SUMMONED TO CAPITAL
BY SECRETARY OF WAR
Would Take Over Supervision Of
Police and Fire Departments
if Named for Post.

MAJ. Gen. Herbert B. Crosby. chief OF
Cavalry, U. S. A., for the past four
years, is known to be under serious con-
Sideration by President Hoover for ap-
pointment as District Commissioner.
1t is the Presidents intention in the
event of Gen. Crosby's appointment to
have him take over supervision of the
Police and Fire Department This
Army officer has spent virtually all of
his time since graduating from West
Point in 1893 as a Cavalry officer.
Gen. Crosby, In response to q com.
munication from the Secretary of War
hurried back to Washington today from
an inspection tour and was in consulta-
ton with one of the Presidents secre-
taries. Secretary of War Hurley was
present, but it is not expected that Gen
Crosby will see the President until later
today, when he is expected to give a
definite answer.
Retirement Necessary.
To take over this Commissioner post
Gen. Crosby necessarily would retire
from the Army. This is compulsory I'M
der the law Ills term as chief of Cav
airy, to which he was appointed in 1926,
will expire in March, at which time he
would automatically go back to his reg
ular rank as colonel unless he retires
in the meantime.
The understanding also Is that the
President will have no difficulty select
ing second Commissioner just as soon
as he receives a definite answer from
Gen. Crosby regarding Commissioner
Dougherty's place. The President has
had some one in mind for several days
who has promised he would accept if
the President desired his services, al
though he would prefer to remain at his
present important office under the
Federal Government.
Mr.. Hoover Is prepared to have Com
misSioners Dougherty and Taliaferro,
whose terms expire tomorrow, hold over
IN Office until he has definitely settled
the matter of their successors. It was
stated in his behalf today that the
President may continue the two pres
ent city Commissioners for a month
or probably two months If necessary.
naSmuch as the present Commissioners
prepared the budget of estimates for
the District for the next fiscal year,
it has been suggested to the President
that it would probably be more advisa-
until the local appropriation bills have
been disposed of, because of their ia
miliarity with them.
No Displeasure Indicated.
The President has indicated that 1t
is his desire to have q new Engineer
Commissioner as well as two new civil
ian Commissioners of his own choosing,
but it is not known just how long Col
Ladue, the present Engineer Commits
sioner, will be asked to remain. Several
weeks ago the Secretary of War was
requested by the President to seek a
successor to Col Ladue, and there have
been indications since then that Lieut..
Col. John ]. Kingman, whose term as
engineer officer for the Milwaukee dis
trict had expired and who is in WASH
ington awaiting reassignment, Is the
man.
The White House has made It very
clear that in not reappointing Com
nlssionerS Dougherty and Taliaferro
and in wanting new Engineer Com
missioner, the President has indicated
no displeasure at the manner in which
the officers have conducted the affairs
OF the local government.
Wants Army Man.
It was explained further that his
sole purpose in wanting an entire new
Board of Commissioners is to have men
of his own choosing.
Since the President commenced look
ing about for available material from
which to pick new Commissioners, he
has evinced keen desire to have a
retired high-ranking Army officer on
the board, principally for the purpose
of supervising the Police Department.
He has had number of Army officers
under consideration, but for one reason
or another either they did not exactly
suit the Presidents purpose or else were
not available at this time. Among
some of these were Maj Gen. McGlach-
lin, Maj. Gen. Dalton, former Quarter
master General; Maj. Gen. Richard P
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column S.