Evening star., 1955-07-11
Guy Mason, "a, Dies; Served
AS Commissioner 10 Years

lAS NOtitIiIISSlOI
Guy Mason. "a. q. District
Commissioner from July 194l
until March 1851. died yester-
day Of a heart ailment at his
home, 4545 Connecticut avenue
INV.
| During his nearly 10 years as
a District Commissioner, Guy
Mason found himself in the
middle of one controversy after
another.
| But Mr.. Mason made 1t plain
in all things that he loved WASH
ington and its people and was
trying hard to serve them well.
He knew how to change his
mind. He was a Republican in
early life. but he decided during
the Wilson administration he
would rather be a Democrat. He
served in the Spanish-American
War and began his civilian ca
reer as a professional baseball
player. soon switching to a job
as a surveyor for the telephone
company.
Then. bitten by the writing
bug, he embarked on a news
paper career which kept him
happily occupied for 10 years.
At the age Of 81. however. he be-
came a successful practicing law
yer. That job lasted "a years
until. in fact President Roosevelt
asked him in 1941 to move into
the District Building to succeed
the late Melvin C. Hazen.
Comparatively New Field.
A District resident since 1904.
he had little experience in
public service. President VIII
son had made him a member of
the Plaza Commission, which ne
gotiated the purchase of the
present park area opposite Union
Station. In 1921, he had served
on the District Rent Commission.
AS Commissioner. Mr.. Mason
was charged principally with
supervising a complex of agencies
Ifunctionirg under the Board Of
Public Welfare and the Health
Department. He was to repre-
sent the District in Joint control
with school authorities over COM
munity center and playground
work. He was to oversee the op-
erations Of the Alcoholic Control
Board, coroner's Office, Insurance
Department. poundmaster and
some Is examining boards.
II expect that sometimes peo-
pie will growl at and about me"
Mr.. Mason said in his first inter-
view as Commissioner. That's
all right, I think can take it."
The new Commissioners ex-
pectations were fully realized be-
fore the end of his first three
year term. He started off by
persuading his colleagues on the
board that it would be a good
idea to keep some of the city's
financial figures secret.
Decision Overruled.
IF the public and the press
want to raise hell about this de-
cision," he told reporters. tits
okay with me-"
The public and the press did
raise hell and Mr.. Mason was
speedily overruled on the issue
when the other Commissioners
reversed themselves.
He expressed himself in blunt
terms on many subjects. In
1943, at a bar association meet
ing. he demanded that Con-
gress give the Commissioners
more power. Congress makes the
decisions. he said. and the Com
missioners get the hook"
Six months passed before Mr..
Mason himself really got the
hook but he got it in a generous
measure when the time came. A
Senate subcommittee launched
an investigation" of conditions
at Gallinger Municipal Hospital.
(Senator Guffey. Democrat, of
Pennsylvania had complained
that the District Health Depart
ment refused to give a job to his
private physician.)
Angered by Mr.. Mason's re-
fusal to testify at its hearings,
the three-man subcommittee
unanimously recommended his
removal as a Commissioner. The
report. referred to Mr.. Mason's
complete failure to perform the
duties Of his job in supervising
Gallinger Hospital"
Three Resigned
Three Gallinger officials, also
attacked in the report. submit
ted their designations. But they