Evening star., 1933-06-13
HAz EN- AND WALKER
GIVEN GOOD CHANCE
FOR DISTRICT POSTS
President to Delay Decision
on Commissioners Until
Farley Returns.
'COTTER AND M'CONIHE
ALSO ON PREFERRED LIST
Records Show Latter Claimed New
York as Home in Tax State
ment Two Years Ago.


trict, and Ernest G. Walker, for many
years Washington correspondent, are
looming up as strong possibilities for
selection as District Commissioners, it
was stated in official circles today.
The White House, however, has given
no intimation Of the Presidents opinion
in the matter. The indications are that
it is doubtful if he will make known his
choice of successors to Commissioners
Luther H. Reichelderfer and Herbert
B. Crosby within the next few days
1t is known that he will not take any
action before the return of Postmaster
General Farley to the Capital tomor-
row. He delegated to Mr.. Farley some
time ago the task of going over the
papers of the half hundred or so candi-
dates and aspirants and the working
out of preferred list of those thought
to be best qualified for the posts.
List Presented by Farley.
Postmaster General Farley presented
to the President last Friday a list of
four or five names of those looked upon
by him as qualified for appointment
Surveyor HaZen, who has been strongly
backed for commissionership, was on
the list, as was Mr.. Walker, whose can
didacy has been considerably strength
ened during the last few days.
Joseph j. Cotter, former official in
the oil industry and associate of Ed
ward L. Doheny and now a practicing
attorney here, and Malcolm S. McCon-
ihe, realtor and builder, were on the
list.
1t is known that quite recently the
name of Brig. Gen. Charles w. Kutz
retired officer of the United States En-
gineer Corps, who was Engineer CON-
missioner decade ago, has been pre-
sented to the President by friends who
are known to carry considerable weight
at the White House
Claimed New York Residence.
Mr. McConihe made an official claim
two years ago that his residence was in
New York State, it was disclosed today
Two years ago Mr. McConihe filed
signed statement with the District
assessor of taxes, in making a return
for intangible personal property hold
ings. that his residence was in New
York and not in the District, check of
official records revealed. Because of
this statement he paid no Intangible
taxes that year, although he has paid
real estate taxes here for many years.
/ The law relating to District Commits
sioners reads:
'The two persons appointed from
civil life shall, at the time of their
appointment, be citizens of the United
States, and shall have been actual resi-
dents of the District of Columbia for
three years next before their appoint
ment and have, during that period,
claimed residence nowhere else"
Mr. McConihe is a native of Troy,
N. Y.
He came TO Washington about Is
years ago and has been active in real
estate, banking and building business
here. He was a delegate to the last
Democratic National Convention and
was a strong Roosevelt supporter.
Cotter Native of Washington.
Mr.. Cotter is native Washingtonian
He was personal assistant to Franklin
K. Lane, Secretary of Interior during
the Wilson administration. In 1920, when
Secretary Lane resigned and became
vice president and general counsel of the
Pan American Petroleum g. Transport
Co., one of the Doheny oil interests.
Mr.. Cotter went with him as his per-
sonal assistant. Following the death
of Mr.. Lane, Mr.. Cotter was made vice
president and counsel of the company
He continued in the oil business until
1929, when i'll health caused him to
retire to private life Later he took UP
the practice of law here. Ats the time
OF his retirement he was president of
the Maracaibo Co., which was not in
cluded in Doheny oil interests.
During the Senate investigation of
Doheny and also Doheny's trial in the
courts here, Mr.. Cotter was one of his
defense counsel.
Tumulty Praises Cotter.
Joseph P. Tumulty, White House Sec
retary during the Wilson administration,
issued the following statement concern
ing the appointments:
1t is a matter CT news to me that I
have been seeking, directly or indirectly,
to influence the appointment of Dis
trict Commissioner
Not having been an original Roose-
welt supporter, I can easily understand
how modest my influence would be
should I attempt to intercede in behalf
of particular candidate
so far as Mr.. Cotter Is concerned. I
have known him pleasantly and inti-
mately for over 20 years. I know some
thing of his ability, character and home
life.
IF, by any chance, should be asked
regarding him, 1t would be a pleasure
ana a pleasant task on my part to
speak In whole-hearted admiration of
him, his loyalty and his high character
as man and a citizen"