Evening star., 1939-06-29
Warm Praise Given.
Hazen for 50 Years
OF Service 10 D. E..
Commissioner Luuded
At Testimonial Meeting
As Official and q Man

At Testimonial Meeting
As Official and q Man
Praises were ringing today in the
ears of Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen as an echo of the testimonial
to his SO years in District service
rendered him last night by well over
300 persons at the Mayf1ower Hotel
Senators and spokesmen for or
gapized citizens, Representatives. la
Dor leaders, bankers, lawyers, Dis
trict workers, society, horse show
folks and private citizens joined in
the celebration. President Roose-
welt sent letter of felicitation.
Incidentally, the battle between
the Senate and House over the 1910
budget, the Federal payment toward
expenses of the National Capital
and the new District tax bill came
in for mention-a reminder that
being Commissioner is not only BAN
quets, songs and encomiumS.
Senator Overton, chairman of the
District Subcommittee of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, who is
leading the battle for adoption of a
fixed formula for more liberal Fed
eral payment, alluded to the fiscal
Issue while declaring of Commis-
sioner Hazen: Il am always glad
to uphold his hand in working out
the problems of the District"
Never a Little Man.
Representative Randolph, chair
man of the House District Commit
tee, said he knew he was voicing the
sentiments of all 81 members of his
committee in regarding Mr.. Hazen
as a very lovable Virginia gentle
man." and he added: You have
honored the Government of the
United States in your so years of
service. You have never been a lit
tie man, you have always been big
man"
President Roosevelt's message of
congratulations, which was read at
the outset of the chorus of praises,
said
Il regret exceedingly that I can
not be present in person at the din
ner which some of your friends are
giving to mark the 50th anniversary
of your service in the government
of the District of Columbia, but I do
want to send you this word of con-
graduation and greetings:
Yours has been not only a long,
but useful service to the District and.
best of all, after a full half century
of varied activity you are still in a
position to render high public serv-
ice-a service all the more valuable
because of the rich experience upon
which you are able to draw. May
long years of health and happiness
be yours"
Senator King, chairman of the
Senate District Committee, could
not attend. but sent message of
congratulation. Senator Capper OF
Kansas, former chairman, was there
as were Representatives Collins,
chairman of the House District Ap-
preparations Subcommittee, and
Dirksen of Illinois, member of the
House District Committee.
Silver Service Presented.
The toastmaster was Robert "
Fleming, past president of the Board
of Trade. Lawrence E. Williams,
president of the Board of Trade,
presented to Commissioner Hazen
a large silver service as a token
of the esteem of his friends. Baskets
of flowers were given Mrs. Hazen
E. Barrett Prettyman, who served
as corporation counsel of the Dis
trict under Commissioner Hazen
gave an extended tribute to the
Commissioner during portion of
the program which was broadcast.
Describing Mr.. Hazen'S official,
social and informal activities, Mr..
Prettyman said: In all these con-
facts we have never known Mel
Hazen to measure any act by any
standard except his own conviction
of right"
He sketched rapidly Mr.. Hazen's
connections with the planning and
developing of the National Capital
during the last SO years, as to streets,
bridges, Rock Creek Park, new
schools, the municipal center prof.
ect and with social security legis-
lation, establishment of the small
claims court, revised lunacy laws,
modernization of the juvenile court
system, zoning and the new insur-
ance code.
AS to his personality, Mr.. Pretty
man said: He is man without age
or af1ectation-at one and the same
time member of the Association of
Oldest Inhabitants, welcome guest
at any jitterbug party. front-roW
fight fan and crowner of queens
par excellence"
Above Common Faults.
He said no one had ever accused
"Mel' Hazen of arrogance, nor of
grasping for power, nor of cruelty,
nor of dishonesty, nor of coWardice,
nor OF laziness, nor of disloyalty,
and, he concluded, mo one, except
one who has occupied a position
such as his, knows the utter loneli-
ness of leadership, but no one has
ever heard him complain or seen
him quit the post of duty"
In response, commissioner Hazen
gave profuse thanks for his many
friendships and for the honors
heaped on him. He voiced appre-
citation for the many pieces of i'm
portant legislation Congress had
passed for the District and he laud-
ed the personnel of the District gov
ernment who serve with him.
Il am glad to testify" he said,
"that in no city government, in no
State government, nor in any Fed
eral service of our country is there
q finer personnel, individually or
collectively, who are more loyal,
more efficient, more jealous than
the willing, hard-Working employees
OF the District government"
Miss Margaret Cotter. horsewom-
an and horse exhibitor, who was as
sociated with Mr.. Hazen in Riding
and Hunt Club functions, declared,
"If he has been as fine Commits