Evening star., 1938-12-19

forthcoming from officials of the
Democratic organization, which won
ell but one place on the board in
the recently county election. regard
ing the installation of Mr.. Hampton
or the two attorneys.
However, a source close to the
new administration disclosed that
the incoming commissioners are
committed to the election of Mr..
Hampton as president and Miss
Simpson and Mr.. Simpson as their
counsel.
In a last minute effort to prevent
the Democrats from taking office,
the Republican commissioners con-
ferred at noon with Circuit Court
Judge Charles w. Woodward over
~ opinion given by Attorney Cen
eral Herbert r. O'Conor on the date
the new board could assume its
duties.
The effort failed, however. when
it. was brought out that Gov. Nice
had signed commissions for the new
officers on November % and they
arrived in Rockville on December S.
One of the incoming commissioners,
thinking the Governor had made a
mistake and the commissions should
have been dated January /, sent
them back to Annapolis.
Gov. Nice then asked the attorney
general for an opinion. In view of
that disclosure, observers here con-
cluded the Democrats could have
taken office two weeks ago
Early Move \ Surprise.
The new board will take over
active control Of the county's ad-
.linistrative functions at the COM
naissioners' weekly meeting tomor-
:cw.
sUnseating of the present board
eemes as surprise for it had been
anticipated that the new commits
sioners would wait until after Jan
Gary l before taking Office.
However, State Senator -elect Rob-
ert B. Peter OF Rockville, chairman
Cf the Democratic organization, who
announced that the change would
he made today, declared Attorney
General O'Conor had given an
opinion that the 1885 act providing
that county officials take Office on
January does not apply to the
commissioners.
The move is similar to a step taken
by the Fusion controlled Board of
County Commissioners in 1894. The
Fusion commissioners ousted the
Democratic board then in power on
November "a, less than two weeks
after the 1894 election.
Included on the board that will
take office today are four Democrats
snd one Republican. They are to
appear at the Office of Clayton K.
Watkins, clerk of the Circuit Court
at 2:30 to be sworn in and it is
expected that the board will be
formally organized this afternoon.
The new commissioners are Mr..
Hampton, Odorion w. Roby, John
E. Oxley and Robert w. Farmer,
Democrats, and Walter j. Pohnson
former Washington baseball pitcher,
the lone Republican.
Members of the outgoing board
ere President Frank H. Karn and
Paul M. Coughlan, Republicans;
Robert D. Hagner, Richard H.
Lansdale and Clay Plummer, Demo-
Gratis
To Name Clerk, Attorney.
The installation of the new COM
missioners is expected to have no
immediate effect on the regular run
of the county employees appointed
by the Fusion Board. for it has been
said that there will be no wholesale
changes in personnel at the present
time.
However. a few key positions now
neld by Republicans probably will be
filled at once with Democratic ap-
pointees. including new clerk and
new counsel to the commissioners.
Ira c. Whitacre of Silver Spring
q Republican, is clerk to the board
now. while the attorney to the COM
missioners is F. Barnard Welsh Of
Rockville. another Republican.
Mr.. Hampton, who maintains a
real estate Office In Bethesda, long
has been active in civic circles and
formerly was president of the
Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. He
sought public Office for the first
time in November and was elected by
q large majority over his Republi-
can opponent, Capt. Chester Wells,
U. 8. N, retired.
II he Is chosen president of the
board he will be the first commits
sioner from the western suburban
district to head that body since DR..
Benjamin c. Perry of Bethesda re-
tired as the commissioner from that
area in 1890.
Leader of Fusion Move.
Miss Simpson, formerly an anti
organization Democrat, was one of
those who played a major role
IN the formation of the Fusion
party, an alliance of Republicans
and anti-organization Democrats,
for the 1884 election. She and her
brother, though. were allied with
the Democratic organization in the
recent campaign.
Her former law partner, Edward
Peter, also an anti-organization
Democrat and treasurer of the
Fusion party, was appointed counsel
to the Fusion Board when it took
office. He was succeeded by Albert
M. Bouic. another anti-organization
Democrat, and later Mr.. Bouic
resigned and was supplanted by
Mr.. Welsh.
Both Miss Simpson and her
brother are graduates Of the George
Washington University Law School.