The Washington times., 1924-03-11
and Oyster Answcr Allegations
Charges Against
| Heads, And
| Answers

Charges against District Commits
sioners Rudolph and Oyster and
their official answers to these alleGa-
tons follow:
Oyster as members Of the Public
Utilities Commission have continual
ly favored in their decisions the
day they took office on March Is,
1921. and that the commission has
not been operating In the public
interest for three years. @
Answer to Charge Since March
IL, 1921, the Public Utilities Com.
mission has issued twelve orders re-
ducing rates Of the street railway,
gas, electric, telephone and baggage
transfer companies. Gas rates have
been reduced three times, from $1.25
per thousand cubic feet to 81 per
thousand cubic feet. Street car
fares reduced three times, from 8
cents cash, four tokens for 80
cents, to 8 cents cash, to six tokens
for 40 cents, three tokens for 20
cents. Telephone rates from $3.50
to IS per month for individual fiat.
rate telephone service. Electric
rates reduced three times, each
time per cent reduction. Bag
gage transfer company once, from
$50 per piece in third zone to
$1.25; in second zone from 81 to 80
cents; first zone from IS to so cents.
Charge 2-That Commissioners
Rudolph and Oyster have failed to
clean up Washington's alleys, even
though they had sufficient power to
put the alleys Of the city in first
class shape.
Answer to Charge No. Com
missioners Rudolph and Oyster have
done everything the law permits
them to do in trying to clean up
the alleys. They have assigned
eleven Health Department inspect
ors to the task Of inspecting the
alleys, taking them away from other
important work. These inspections
have resulted in clean-ups in more
than 1000 out Of the 1000 houses
inspected. Police Of the city have
been sent to check up on the clean
ups. The cases in which alley dwell.
ers and owners have failed to
clean up have been taken to court.
The Commissioners are without
authority by law to take any other
action in cleaning up alleys. It "a
also pointed out that Commissions
ers Rudolph and Oyster are not
charged with keeping the alleys
clean, nor are they charged with
cOndemning unsanitary and unsafe
houses. The cleanup jobs come
under the Engineer Department
and the condemnation of houses un.
der q special board. Commission
ers Rudolph and Oyster can only
take further action In betterinG
conditions in the alleys by getting
additional money from Congress
Legal officials Of the District have
advised Rudolph and Oyster that
they have gone as far as theiI
authority extends in their efforts
to better alley conditions.
Charge No. 3-That Rudolph and
Oyster have not conducted them
selves as members Of the Zonine
Commission to the best interests
4 Of the public and have furtheret
certain factions.
Answer to Charge No. 8-Thil
allegation II vigorously denied. Ru
dolph and Oyster are but two OF
five members Of the Commission
Every decision given has been fol
the "best interests Of the public.
In one case cited, Commissioner
Rudolph and Oyster were out o.
the city when the public hearing
was held. In another, Oyster dit
not vote. Rudolph and Oyster
the acts Of the Commission. Ru
dolph and Oyster are willing Il
stand on their records as Zonins
Commissioners and are willing Il
bear all responsibility for any
and all Of their acts as members
Of this Commission.
Charge No. THAT Rudolph. and
Oyster interfered with the educa.
tional program Of the Board OF
Education in that they slashed the
estimates Of the school board In
two instances, one in which the
annual estimates were concerned
and the second regarding the
teachers salary bill.
Answer to Charge No. Amy
criticism of Rudolph and Oyster
for their acts in connection with
estimates il a reflection on Presi
dent Coolidge. Any changes made
: by Rudolph and Oyster in the
estimates were made at the request
and direction Of the Bureau of the
Budget and in compliance will
President Coolidge's economy de
cree. The personal opinions Of the
Commissioners were not involved II
these estimates as Rudolph anC
Oyster were carrying out orders o.
. the President Of the United States
In regard to the salary bill, thu
school board sent its estimates t.
the Budget Bureau which in turr
referred 1t to the Commissioner
with instructions to cut. The Com
> missioners made q slight cut, bu,
still left in the bill a higher scale
than is now in force. Last year
the school estimates were 81 pei
cent Of the. entire District budget
In addition supplementary esti
mates Of 81 ,450, 900 for schools have
been submitted to Congress.
Charge No. 5.-Senator Norris an
nounces he win demand an inves
tigation Of charges that Commits
sioner Oyster called off police in
vegtigation Of q liquor scandal when
1t "neared the home OF a prominent
: District citizen"
: Answer to Charge No. 5.-Com
missioner Oyster vigorously denies
i the allegation. He declares he Il