Evening star., 1939-05-22
George {. Allen
is Renamed
Commissioner
Will Serve Short
Term to Aid in D. c.
Reorganization

President Roosevelt today reap
pointed George E. Allen a District
Commissioner.
The nomination appointing Mr..
Allen to the place he vacated last
september to become vice president
OF the Home Insurance Co. of New
YORK was sent to the Senate TODAY.
and the president has every reason
to feel that it will be readily con-
flrmed by the Senate.
Mr.. Allen has been drafted back
INTO the public service by the Presi-
Gent primarily for the purpose of
being the key man in the reorgan-
lzatlon of the District government.
Whlle his nomination calls for ap-
polntment to term of three years.
1t is doubtful if Mr.. Allen will be
able to extend his leave of absence
from the Home Insurance Co. for
more than six months or a wear.
The President realizes this. but feels
because of Mr. Aliens experience
and his knowledge of District affairs
ana his wide circle of friends he will
be able to carry through to a sue
ceSStul elimination of the Presi-
dents ideas for the reorganization
OF the local government.
In Hands of Three.
/ The reorganization of the District
government, regardless of what Con-
gresS does, will be in the hands of
three men-President Roosevelt,
George Allen and Louis BroWnloW,
| former Commissioner and who for
/ TWO years has been chairman of the
Presidents special committee on this
subject and his closest adviser on
this subject.
The nomination of Mr.. Allen to
/ succeed himself as Commissioner
| Will come as a surprise to MANY. but
1t is known by some of the Presi-
dents close friends that Mr.. Roose-
welt did not want him to leave the
commlSsionership and has been
making overtures to him from time
10 time since then to come back"
even for short time.
Wrote Insurance Firm.
The President on Nav II wrote a
letter to Harold V. Smith, president
OF the Home Insurance Co.. and said
IN part: we have a vitally impor-
tant reorganization problem that
must be solved. 1t involves the re-
/ organization Of the government Of
/ the District Of Columbia. 1t so hap
| pens you have the man I need. He
is my old Commissioner, George E.
Allen. BY his experience and knowl-
edge of the District government plus
his natural ability to get things
done he is the logical choice.
Il do not propose to ask you to
let me have Georges services any
longer than is necessary. I believ.
If he undertakes this job he should
be able to complete the work in a
| relatively short time. I have seen
and talked with George and he is
willing to undertake the task. and
as one president to another I beg
OF you not to veto this request
President Gets Short Loan"
The President today received the
following reply from President
/ Smith of the Home Insurance Co:
We shall. of course. be happy to
! comply with your request and loan
you the services of our vice presl-
dent, George E Allen. There ale
two reasons for this. First, we e
/ glad to be of help to you in re-
organizing the government of the
| District.
/ Second: Since we are both
/ agreed in our estimate of Georges
ability and qualifications it would be
what is known in banking parlance
as a short term loan"
Mr. Allen retired to private life
after serving two terms as Commits
sioner September l last. despite
pleas on the part of the President
| to remain on at the District Build
ing until he could find some one he
| looked upon as entirely suitable TO
succeed him, but Mr.. Allen after
remaining on much longer than
his new company had originally
agreed to, finally stepped out to
enter the business field.
Since then the President has given
consideration to more than 100
names of men and women, candi-
dates for the vacant commissioner
ship, but friends of the President are
convinced that he withheld making
any selection because he had his
mind set on getting Mr. Allen back
even for a temporary period.
Talks to White House.
Mr.. Allen notified the White House
today by long-distance telephone
from New York that his company
had agreed to give him this leave of
absence at the request of the Presi-
dent.
Mr.. Allen will be back in WASH
ington tomorrow morning and will
have an audience with the Pres.-
dent to talk over matters before
taking up his old duties at the Dis
trict Building.
President Roosevelt's personal let
ter to the Board of Directors Of
the Home Insurance Co requesting
(See ALLEN. Page A-3)