Evening star., 1933-08-25
ROOSEVELT DELAYS
NAMING c. HEADS;
NEW RULE H|NTED
President Believed Consider
ing 0ne-Man Government
for District.
CONFERENCE WITH UNCLE
GIVES RUMOR STRENGTH
Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, Known
to Be Looked Upon Favorably
if Change Is Made.
BY. J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

BY. J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
Staff Correspondent of The Star
HYDE PARK, N. Y, August IS
Selection by President Roosevelt Of sue
cessors to Commissioners Reichelderfer
and Crosby need not be expected any
time in the immediate future.
Mr.. Roosevelt is understood to have
changed his mind about disposing Of
this matter while up here at his Hudson
River home, and proposes to postpone
the solution of this patronage problem
for an indefinite period
The impression was gathered that
the President actually may let the
matter drag for some time. This would
mean that it is not his present purpose
merely to delay matters until he gets
back to the White House.
Confers With Uncle.
Mr.. Roosevelt yesterday afternoon
journeyed to Newburgh on the Hudson,
about 20 miles from Hyde Park, to con-
fer with his uncle, Frederic A. Delano
United States Park and Planning Com
mission and recognized as an authority
on District Government affairs.
The fact that Mr. Roosevelt has de-
termined to put off the appointment Of
the Commissioners following this talk
with Mr. Delano his given rise to spec
ulation that the President may have in
mind letting the present Board Of Com
missionerS serve until recommendations
are made to change the present form Of
government for the District-to place
the administrative authority in the
hands of one person instead Of board
Of three as is now the case.
This change in the government has
been adverted by Mr. Delano for some
time and it is known that Mr.. Roose-
welt thinks favorable Of the proposal.
The President gave unmistakable proof
of this some weeks ago when he said at
a newspaper conference that he had
been studying the proposal and thought
it should be brought to the front for
action when Congress next meets.
Since assuming Office the President
has conferred frequently with MIR. Del
ano regarding his plan to change the
local government Mr.. Delano's plan.
which would create one-man rule for
the Capital City with an advisory coun-
Gil of some kind. Is understood to have
been in definite form for some weeks
and has long since been turned over to
the President to study. 1t Is known. too,
that before giving it his serious study
the President assigned Louis M. Howe,
his secretary, to the task Of making a
preliminary study.
Col. Grant Mentioned.
While the President is known to look
with favor on the proposal and Is
known to have intimated that he might
take some action in the future. no
comment was forthcoming at the sum
mer White House today in an official
way, to the effect that this is the
reason for his postponement Of the
appointment of the commissioners. No
explanation was given for the authori-
tative information that these appoint
ments would not be made at present.
At the same time the impression
was gained that speculation as to pos
sible appointees to the Board Of Com
missioners could be forgotten for the
present.
Mr.. Delano himself was included in
this speculation soon after the Presi-
dent assumed Office, but he soon elimi
mated himself by stating positively that
he would not serve in such capacity
He did infer, however that he might
be prevailed upon if he could have
one-man powers, along the lines pro-
posed.
Whether or not the President now
has IN mind bringing about this change
in the local government and placing
established here today.
ThnSa uhn havp fo1kod with Mr.
Delano regarding such an eventuality
are inclined to feel that while he is
anxious to see his plan of government
adopted, he would prefer to have some
one else serve as the head He Is
known to think very favorably of
Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, until
few weeks ago in charge of public
buildings and public parks, in which
capacity he served for number of
years.
Confidence in Delano.
Besides Mr. Delano, others familiar
with Col. Grants ability feel that he
is undoubtedly one of the best-equipped
men for such an Office. Whether or
not he has ever been sounded out to
determine If he would leave the Army
to accept an Office such as proposed in
the Delano plan is not known.
It is understood also that the White
House has consulted Louis Brownlow,
former District Commissioner, and now
a National authority on city manage
ment, regarding the change in Gov
ernment proposed by Mr.. Delano. Mr..
Brownlow was at the White House sew
eral times early In the Summer, in re-
sponse to an invitation to discuss the
plan.
Mr.. Roosevelt is known to have great
confidence in the judgment Of Mr.. De-
lano in matters relating to affairs Of
the district, not only relating to the
Government and the physical aspects
Of the Capital city, but to the men
and women identified with the service
and physical development of the city
The President is represented as having
every reason to appreciate Mr.. Delano's
long and wide experience in District
affairs.
TIL fact that the President has de-
cided to pass I'D for the present the