Evening star., 1933-08-31


Now, however, I am rather tired, the
confinement in this Office is rather
irksome and therefore I have decided
to leave it.
II have no plans whatever for future
employment. I am going away from
Washington in October for a rest and
change of environment, the date of my
return being very Indefinite
Acted on Transit Merger.
The commission under Gen. Patrick's
regime, successfully piloted through
Congress the joint resolution authoriz-
ing a merger of the Districts trans
portation companies, and initiated valu-
ations of the street car companies and
the Washington g. Georgetown Gas
Light Cos. Another important activity
under his leadership was the invest-
gation of the foreign control of the gas
companies, resulting in the consent de-
cree under which the out-of-town hold
ing corporations were ordered to make
certain changes in their financial set-up.
Gen. Patrick also has taken an active
part in a movement to readjust Wash
ington's muddled taxicab situation, and
repeatedly urged Congress to give the
commission authority to put an end to
the rental" cab system, which since
has been condemned by a District Su-
preme Court Judge.
The commission, in addition, &C
lively supported a bill to authorize
merger Of the two gas companies,
which was blocked in both the Senate
and House, largely due to the opposi-
tion of Richmond B. Keech, who saw
no benefits accruing to the public
unless going concern" was eliminated
as an element of valuation
The resignation had placed before
President Roosevelt. another problem
in the selection of major District
official. The President has not yet
named successors to Commissioners
Reichelderfer and Crosby, whose terms
expired April 9.
Gen. Patrick came to the commission
from the retired ranks Of the Army. At
the time Of his retirement he was chief
of the Army Air Service.
Supervised Bordeaux Docks.
During the World War Gen. Patrick
was chief engineer Of all lines of COM
munication for the American Expedi-
tionary Force, a post in which he dem
onstrated his ability as a utilities ex-
pert. It was under his supervision that
the great docks at Bordeaux were con-
structed. He also directed other con-
struction projects that paved the way
for efficient movement of supplies to
the American forces.
When complications developed in
connection with organization of the
American air forces in the battle zone,
Gen. Patrick was called upon to turn
his attention to air traffic. He was
then made chief of the air service, and
served in that capacity during the re-
mainder of the war. AS the American
air chief in France, he directed pro-
gram of aircraft procurement that ex-
tended into England and italy. At one
time he had under his command more
than $4,000 men, 1884 airplanes and
300 balloons
Native Of West Virginia.
Gen. Patrick was born in Lewisburg
w. Va, December 13, 1863. He was
graduated from West Point in 1886 and
from the Engineering School of Appli-
cation three years later. He was pro-
NOTED from second lieutenant through
the latter grade in 1916. During these
years of service he was assigned to
numerous engineering jobs undertaken
by the War Department in connection
with river ard harbor work. He also
was q member of the board in charge
of raising the U. S. S. Maine from the
bottom of Havana Harbor.
Gen. Patrick's war service won foT
him Distinguished Service Medal and
various other citations, which include
a commander in the Legion of Honor, q
commander in the Order Of st. Maurice
and Lazarus, 9 knight commander OF
the order OF the British Empire and
a commander Of the Crown OF Belgium