The Washington herald., 1913-09-30
GRAHAMAROUSES
LANCASTER'S IRE
Proposed Reception to Com
missioner Newman Meets
Vigorous Opposition.
QUESTION NOT SETTLED
Board Of Trade Member Declares
Chairman of Joint Committee Acts
with Impropriety.

Opposition to the proposed testimonial
reception TO be given Commissioner New
man Saturday night at the New Will
lard by the three kindred commercial or
saniZations Of the city was voiced yes
terday in a letter addressed to z c.
Graham, chairman of the joint COMMITTEES
on arrangements representing the Cham
Der of Commerce, the Board of Trade, and
the Retail Merchants Association by c.
c. Lancaster, a member of the Chamber
Of Commerce and the Board of Trade.
Mr.. Lancaster characterizes the pro-
posed reception as the height OF i'm
propriety," while Mr.. Newman's right to
hold ofice is being contested in the
courts.
Lancaster Makes Protest.
Mr.. Lancaster protests the giving of
the proposed reception not only at a men,
Der Of two of the organizations a party
to it, but also as member of the home
rule committee under the auspices OF
which the eligibility OF Mr.. Newman is
being fought before the courts. The let
ter to Mr.. Graham is in part as follows:
Il would like to know by what au-
thority of the Board of Trade and Cham
Der Of Commerce you assume to act as
chairman of a joint committee OF said
organizations for the purpose indicated
in your communication. / fail to recall
any dCllOn on SUBJECT
by either Of these organizations In pub
lie meeting assembled, and until they
have so acted deny your right to act
for said bodies in the capacity you have
assumed.
1T is a fact well known that the bona
ide residents of the District of Column
bia, through the home rule committee
are contesting in our courts the title OF
Oliver P. Newman to hold the office of
q nm nfgGfn -Nrsn ay,l
while this important matter is pending
in our courts it would be the height of
impropriety and against good sense for
either the Board OF Trade or the Cham
Der of Commerce TO commit itself to .he
iIl-sdvised action indicated by you
Over 80 per cent of our people who
have examined the facts and the law are
convinced that said Oliver P. Newman
is acting as a Commissioner of this Dis
trict in open violation of the organic
act of 1873, and that he should be ousted
and that a legal resident of this District
should be promptly appointed in his
stead. Knowing these facts. as you un-
doubtedly do and the feeling of our peo-
pie on this important issue so vital to
their personal and property rights, 1 am
surprised and chagrined that you should
IN this questionable manner attempt ~
commit the Board of Trade and the
Chamber of Commerce to acquiesce in
or COndone SO fragrant a violation of a
statute enforcing home rule in the Dis
trict of Columbia"
Graham May Reply.
Chairman Graham last night declined
to discuss the matter. He stated that
he might have something to say after
he had read the contents of Mr.. Lam
casters letter.
The proposition to hold a reception for
the Commissioners was FIRST considered
by the board of directors Of the Chamber
of Commerce a few days after che ap-
pointment Of the present board. The sug-
gestion was made at the time THAI the
reception be a joint affair. to be held
under the auspices of the three Orsaniza-
tiOns.