Evening star., 1933-07-28
Farley Confers With PresI.
dent, Raising Prospect of
Final Approval.
ERNEST WALKER STRONG
AMONG THE CANDIDATES
Change in Form of Government
May Be Observation-Disclosures
Delay Possible.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Appointment Of the District Commits
sioners was awaiting the final approval
Of President Roosevelt today.
Postmaster General Farley, who Is
chairman Of the Democratic National
Committee and upon whose recommen-
dations for Federal appointment the
President relies, had the matter up
with the President this morning.
Ernest H. Walker was today reported
in well informed circles to be the
probable selection for one of the Com.
missionerships.
Mr.. Walker was for years an active
newspaper man in Washington and
more recently was engaged in the real
estate business.
When the President does make the
appointments, it is reported he will do
so with the understanding on the part
Of the new Commissioners that the ad-
ministra ton recommends a change in
the form of government for the Dis
trict looking to a single head. There
is a possibility that the President may
make reference to that fact when
he announces the appointments. He
has been strongly urged by some OF
his advisors to recommend to Congress
a change in the organic act Of the Dis.
trict so as to provide for a city man.
ager for the National Capital instead OF
the Present board of three Comnis.
sioners. two civilian and one from tho
Army Engineer Corps.
Possibility of Delay.
Should the President fail to make the
appointments before he leaves here to-
night for a stay of nearly two weeks at
Hyde Park, N Y, the appointments are
likely to go over until the Chief Execu-
tive returns to Washington. it was said.
The appointments expected are those
Of the two civilian members OF the
Board of District Commissioners, to
take the place of Dr.. Luther H. Reich
elderfer and Gen. Herbert B. Crosby. I
s. A. retired, whose terms of office G.
pired more than two months ago.
The selection Of the District Com
missioners by the President has been
delayed partly because OF the great rush
of important business which had to be
handled by Mr.. Roosevelt and parity
by the clash Of opposing Democratic
The local Democratic organization,
headed by John F. Costello, Demo.
cratic national committeeman. anf
John B. Colpoys, chairman Of thS
Democratic Central Committee. camp
forward with its recommendation fo1
the appointment of Mr.. Walker and
Malcolm s. McConihe. Mr.. Nc
Conihe is regarded by some as elimi.
mated because he made a statement
to the District tax assessor two yeare
ago that he was a resident OF New
York State.
Many Other Candidates.
But there have been so or more other
candidates put forward for the two
positions, some of them backed by MEM
bers of the Senate and by members
of the cabinet and by Admiral Cary 7.
Grayson, who was chairman OF th0
Roosevelt Inaugural Committee.
More recently there have been reports
that at least one dark horse" might
be appointed District Commissioner.
Some of the local Democrats have
been disturbed by reports that their
recommendations are not to carry
weight in the selection of the District
Commissioners. AS Democrats who
train with the Costello Colpoys orgsni-
zation see it, there is just as much rea-
son for giving consideration to the or
ganization's recommendations for ap<
pointment to Office in the District gov-
eminent as there is for giving considera-
ton to the recommendations Of the
Democratic organizations in the States
and congressional districts for appoint
ments to office within the States and
districts. These local Democrats are
inclined to view with entire disapproval
the efforts of members of Congress and
politicians from outside the District to
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