Evening star., 1952-03-30
Jobs
Recorders IS Only Local Plum Thot Goes
To Non-Wushingtonion Party StoWort
BY John w. Stepp

Uy 1uHU
Patronage wrangies in the po-
litical plum orchard Of Wash
ington are about as novel as a
traffic jam on Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. But interested-and largely
bitter-spectators in the Ma
tion's Capital recently have had
the dubious treat of watching a
really monumental set-to of
that kind.
The particular plum at stake
was the position of District re-
corder Of deeds. a 1860 per year
fruit that has been almost en-
tirely forbidden to Washington
residents throughout the 90-year
history of the office. It has been
traditionally occupied by q
Negro.
President Truman nominated
o long time Democratic Party
buddy from Kansas City, Earl
Wayne Beck. That touched OF
o jostling match that District
observers sadly concluded was
simply repeat performance Of
many others in the past.
The recorder Is one Of six
strictly local government ap-
pointees named by the President
of the United States. The other
five-two District Commission
erS, two members of the Public
Utilities Commission. and the
peoples counSel-are dull shuck-
ings at appointment time in
comparison with the recorder Of
deeds.
Only Outsider Allowed
For one thing, all but the lat
ter post require appointment of
q Washington resident. The re-
corder, on the other hand, may
hail from whatever point in the
United States that might do the
President the most political good.
The District is Just about the
last place.
Eight years ago. the late
President Roosevelt nominated
a clergyman, and vote-getter.
from Philadelphia for the re-
corder's post. Mr.. RooSevelt's
choice won through, but only
after angry protests by political
opponents in Congress and by
WaShingtonians outraged over
the succession Of still another
outsider to the Office. There
have been only two local men
appointed in the last SO years.
MIR. Truman's man batted fiat
zero. despite nomination and
denomination. Mr.. Beck failed
to make the grade due to
stronger combination Of the
same class of opponents as faced
his predecessor. But as a price
for this opposition victory
the recording agency probably
will get no recorder at all. Mr..
Truman announced that he has
"done his part" by submitting
the nominations. and has no
intention of Offering a new can
didate for Senate approval.
Troditiono! cIomor
It is in this tradition that
politicians and ordinary citi-
zens have been clamoring and
pouting over the recorders job
for these many years.
OF course, the District Com
missionerships also belong in
the plum department. But at
least these office holders must
be Washingtonians. There has
been long record of presiden-
tial cronies and political hus-
tiers getting the executive nod
for Commissioners jobs. With
virtually every nomination,
voices numerous or few. power
full or small-depending on the
nominee-have chorused opposi-
tion. Many times the objec-
tions are based on mere per-
sonalities. Sometimes the OBJ
jectors have more valid objec-
tions, and the nominations are
batted down.
But since 1878. when the
commissioner form Of govern
Inent was established, there has
also been a liberal share Of
highly respected. popular and
efficient city administrators
men picked from the ranks Of
civic leaders, who have Selfless-
ly furthered the city's interests.
Three Years Residence
AS with the Board of Com
Sioners, the two civilian men,
berS of the Public Utilities
Commission must have resided
here for at least three years
prior to their appointment.
(On each body, the third mem
ber is an Army officer, with no