Evening star., 1925-07-18

'N-Oiib1iiLSt iiplll Il Al 81 dSe'i
ernment property, treatment of World
War veterans employed on the park
police force and as guards Of public
buildings, and concentrated authority
In this one public official, who, he
says, has too many irons in the fire.
Throughout, Representative Blanton
repeatedly urges that hearings be held
at which he may question witnesses.
and warning that he will not stand
for any punishment or loss of job in
tiicted upon an employe who may be
suspected of having furnished infor-
nation that is the basis of the Blan-
ton document.
Representative Blanton prefaces his
charges with the statement that he is
spending the entire nine months of
congressional recess 'in making a per
sonal study of existing conditions in
our Nations Capital" so that he will
be prepared to make recommendations
when the District committee meets
and be able to act with full knowl-
edge and intelligence in helping to
solve its problems"
Sees Czarist Control
He declares he has evidence of
great probative Conclusiveness" that
no ear has ever been in more COM
plete control than Col. Sheriff. "of
over One-seventh of the District of
Columbia" He says this evidence in
dicates that Col. Sheriff. "arrogantly
and pompously presides as the sole
a q l1y lr lax
enforcer, contract-letter, concession
grantor, employe-hirer, employe-dis-
charger, money-disburser judge, jury
and execution, from whose iron decree
there is no way of escape"
Representative Blanton has found
to his chagrin that in the new traffic
code, which he helped to write, de-
signed to create a traffic director and
provide laws for the entire District,
tie clause crept in on the last page
by which Col. Sheriff. is authorized
and empowered to make and enforce
all regulations for the control of We
hicle and traffic, and limiting the speed
thereof on roads, highways and
bridges within the public grounds of
the District.
He points out that the "voteless,
Voiceless. helpless 450, 900 people here
come within eight separate. distinct,
different police systems, each respon-
Sible TO a different head and controlled
by different regulations: The House
Office Building force; the Senate Office
Building force: the police for the Capt.
tol Building and Grounds; police for
the geological Park; police for the
Agricultural grounds; a separate sys.
tenn of 33 police for the White House
grounds, separate system of 81 park
force.
Hits Army Interference.
Stressing that West Point training
is TO accomplish an objective regard
less Of expense, which is all right
in war, but not conducive to economy
in peace time, Representative Blanton
advises that Just as the cobbler
should stick to his last, so should
Army officers stick to things mill
tary and not attempt to run all of
our Government civilian affairs in
peace time"
To give this point he enumerates II
commissions of which Col. Sheriff. is
executive and disbursing officer. be-
sides which he is director of public
buildings and parks in the National
Capital, and disburser of the big APP
preparations for renovating public
DullClUSS, lnClullHS SOU,UUU repairs on
the White House and also the $780,
600 for parks turned over the first of
this month, with an authorization
from Congress Of Sl,100, 900 allowable
every year hereafter for parks and
having under control several hundred
guards and other civilians employed
in public buildings.
Mr.. Blanton charges that Col. Sher-
rill Cancelled a contract which had
,r~l,f ~, ~
ernment would have received $1,700
for the lease of concessions at the
public golf grounds and gave the eX-
elusive privilege free gratis for five
Years to the same man, who thus
gets the East Potomac golf course
with the 500 900 clubhouses, the
private speedway leading down to the
same, the splendid body of Govern
ment land running down to Hains
Point, the West Potomac golf course
with golf house, the colored golf
course with golf house north of the
Lincoln Memorial, with the exclusive
privilege of selling golf clothes, bags,
sticks, balls, paraphernalia, ice cream,
cold drinks. cigars. cigarettes. tobac
co. lunches. permits for playing on
course. motor oils and gasoline and
the exclusive privilege of operating
five busses, all without any competi,
tion.
Get Police Protection
Not only that, but he quotes a spe
cial order which requires park police
''to give these three golf houses hour.
ly police protection throughout the
night" when the property therein is
all the personal property of the man
who gets these valuable concessions
for five years without paying the
Government one dollar"
Representative Blanton makes q
similar explanation of conditions al
the tourist camp. where the conces