Evening star., 1941-06-25
District Heads Reject
Nomination Of Huff
As Welfare Director
No Fault Is Found,
But indications Are
Edwards Is Preferred
By DON S. WARREN.

Nomination of Ray L. Huff. now
general superintendent of penal in
stltutionS, TO be District welfare di-
rector was rejected today by the
/ Board of Commissioners.
Frederick W. McReynolds. chair
man of the Board of Public We'll
fare. was called before the city
heads shortly before noon today
and was asked to have the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Huff withdrawn and to
have the Welfare Board submit
new nomination.
There were indications that the
Commissioners have a preference
for the selection of Paul Edwards,
now District w. P. A. administrator
but they made no statement on this
point. Mr.. Edwards and Mr.. Huff
were considered the two leading
candidates considered by the We'll
fare Board before its choice was
made three weeks ago.
Mr. McReynolds, interviewed By
reporters after his conference with
the Commissioners, refused to make
any statement other than to say the
next regular meeting of the Welfare
Board was scheduled for next Mon
dav afternoon. When reporters
asked him if the nomination OF a
welfare director would be considered
at that time he said he did not Anow
what one or another of the nine
members of the board would bring
up. He added that at each meeting
the Welfare Board considers many
subjects, including the numerous
details of the management of well
fare institutions.
No Criticism of Huff.
The Commissioners made clear III
sending the Huff nomination back
to the Welfare Board that they have
no criticism of him or his service.
In fact, a spokesman for the COM
missioners said the city heads have
formed a very high regard for Mr..
Huff for the manner in which he
has been operating the District penal
institutions.
At the same time it was said there
had been a question whether he
was best available for the general
direction of the whole welfare pro-
gram, as well as question of finding
a suitable person to replace him on
the specialized job he now is
handling.
Indications pointed to a possible
desire by the Commissioner for the
nomination of Mr.. Edwards, in that
some members of the Board of Com
missioners have remarked openly of
the fine impression he made on them
in meeting the recent crisis over the
impending dismissal of $500 of the
5000 District w. P. A. project work.
erS
Once earlier in recent years there
was similar action in which the
Board of Commissioners rejected a
nomination made by the Welfare
Board for the Welfare Directors
post. In that case a Maryland well
fare official was nominated and the
nomination sent back by the city
heads until it was withdrawn and
the name of Elwood Street. then di-
rector of the Washington Com
munity Chest, substituted. The city
heads promptly appointed Mr..
Street.
Bondy Goes to Red Cross.
Robert E Bondy, who succeeded
Mr.. Street, resigned some weeks ago
to take a position with the Ameri-
can Red Cross While he has ceased
District work, he will be on the pay
roll until July 13. Conrad Van Hyn-
ing, principal assistant welfare di-
rector, now is serving as acting well
fare director.
There were reports today the
Commissioners were displeased be-
cause the Board of Public Welfare
had not prepared or submitted rec
concentrations to the Commissioners
for the Senate District Appropria-
tions Subcommittee on what should
be done to grant relief to the per-
sons to be dismissed from the w. P.
A. A request for suggestions on this
point was made by the Commission
ers after session with the Senate
subcommittee. Suggestions were
offered by Mr.. Van Hyning, the act
ing welfare director. but yesterday
the District supply bill was marked
up" The Welfare Board will not