The Washington times., 1922-12-09

k;5$33 CouI DO VI
E21kzSxSE &@ ling q railroad
WILLIAM HARD ASe for tSe Inter.
state Commerce Commission he op-
posed the contentious of Mr.. Pierce
Butler, who was attorney-in-chief
for the railroad concerned and who
was also the dominating member Of
the University Of Minnesota board
u regents.
:.This case Is alleged by Mr.. But
kr's' enemies to be q proof Of his
inability to separate himself as q
public man from. his partisanship
as a railroad attorney. The allega-
tions In fun are as follows:
That DIR. Gray is a political
economist Of national repute and
was requested. by the Interstate
Commerce Commissioner to act as
EXAMINER" for the commission in
Cases involving the valuation Of
railroads.
THAT DR.. Gray was allowed n
temporary leave Of absence by ths
University Of Minnesota and was as.
signed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission to hold a hearing In the
State of Texas into the matter Of
the value of the Texas Midland rail-
fbad. .
That Mr.. Pierce Butler appeared
IN that hearing as attorney-in-chief
on behalf of the Texas Midland rail-
road and that he was also attorney
in-chief for a national organization
Of railroads formed for the purpose
Of defending the railroad company
side Of the railroad valuation ques-
ton. ~
That DR.. Gray, as examiner" in
charge Of the hearing in the Texas
Midland case. made. certain rulings
a1sainst Mr.. Butler on points re.
fundamental Importance.
That Mr.. Butler in great indigna.
tion retired from the hearing and
returned to Minneapolis and to
washington S-I]s1-s7- y - s.-ta
bThat he, nevertheless continued
tSs direct the railroad side Of the
Case through letters and kilograms
70 the railroad attorneys associated
with him in the case.
That these associated attorneys
continued to protest against DR..
Gray's rulings and that DR.. Gray
continued. nevertheless. to apply
and to enforce them, So, e..
That Mr.. Butler in Washington
made visits to members of the In
tsrstate Commerce Commission and
protested to them against DR.. Gray's
rulings, claiming that DIR. Gray was
aetuated by a desire to do harm to
railroads. ;
That the Interstate Commerce
Commission made an. inquiry into
tl9e matter and upheld and sus-
t6fned, DR.. Gray's rulings.
That DIR. Gray was thus adjudged
BY the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to have acted with COM
piete' propriety in his handling OF
tKs case as the representative Of
the United States Government.
That the board of regents Of the
University of Minnesota requested
DE Gray's resignation from his
position as head OF the university's
department Of economies. N
That this request was accom-
paaied by no charges against DIR.
Gray. .g,
That DIR. Gray wrote a letter to
each member of the board OF
regents, including Pierce Butler,
demanding that the reasons for re-
qdesting, his resignation be given
him.
That the board Of regents refused
70 give reasons. 4la4 .
That DIR. Gray refused to resign.
That the board Of regents there
upon, abolished the position Of
"head" Of the department, of eco
nontcs and created a new position
called director" of the department
Of economics and appointed q new
man to the new position. SSg
That DIR. Gray thereafter remained
frr the university for some time an q
Professor in. q subordinate position
and endeavored further TO learn the
reason for the hostile attitude taken
toward him by the board Of regents.
That he was informed by hign
officers OF the university that no
charges existed against him either
IN respect Of his personal character
or In respect OF his professional
capacity, but that in the board Of
regents there was feeling
against him. @t
THAT the board refused to declare
the reasons for this feeling" t-.
That when Dr., Gray found that he
could not bring this feeling" out
into the light where he could attack
II and sovercome II, he retired from
the University OF Minnesota and took
Q j,osition In Carlton University. B.
That thus DR.. Gray was driven out
OF the University Of Minnesota by q
board Of regents which for years had
shown no feeling" against him
Whatsoever. but which acquired that
"feelfng" and acted on II Just az soon
as DIR. Gray had come into contro.
veiisy on public national question
with Mr.. Pierce Butler. the dominat.
ing member Of the board. sT'a
That thus Mr.. Butler used his
public position as q regent Of Z
St4fe university 70 carry forward
his activities as q railroad attorney.
That the public question involved
in the controversy between DR.. Gray
ana Mr.. Butler was the railroad
valuation question which win Be
one Of the prime questions before
the Unitkd States Supreme Court
during the next few years. ssngT
Yi1af n Mr.. Butler could carry
his. railroad company views OF that
question into q public position held
by him IN Minnesota.{ he might
equally carry them fneS q public