Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-30
GILBERT LAUNCHES
ATTACK ON FENNING
IN SPEECH IN HOUSE

tlpfl VI hutiolp1l w est. "" tlbs ~
tween third ard half of all the
stock. When first examined as to the
business connections between that cor
poration and the District he stated
, that he in no way Influenced the Dis
tricts purchase of supplies and other
competitors shared equally with ms
firm. Later, however, an audit ais
closed that during the last fiscal year
the firm sold to the District more
than $4,000 worth of supplies, while
the nearest competitor sold only VIA
600 worth of supplies. When con,
fronted with these figures and asked
whether he had attempted TO deceive
or was merely not coEnizant or the
Districts business. he chose the lat
ter alternative.
I'm my firm opinion. his holding OF
this office while the firm of rudolph
< West is in contract relations WIN
the District is clearly in violation OF
section Al of the Criminal Code Of the
United States.
Named by commissioners.
The corporation counsel has al
vised Mr.. Rudolph that there Is noth-
ing illegal in his dual allegiance. Ana
this particular counsel has uniformly
rendered an opinion whenever re-
quested upon amy possible lilegailtN
of any of til" actions of any OF the
system that the desired action was
in nuwise illegal. This corporation
counsel is named by the Commission
ers. and | wish personally 10 call at
tention to the conditions In his
office
Mr.. Gilbert then declared that "ona
of the most reprehensible situations
is in connection with the School
Board. At the head OF the School
Board is L. {. Graham, president of
the National Electric Supply Co. This
School Board is named by the
judges of the Supreme Court. but the
School Board. like all OF the other
municipal agencies within the Dis
trict, is concerned more with eXecu-
tives than with teachers and more
with contracts than the welfare of
pupils. This same system controls
the members Of the School Board
through appointment of relatives as
school teachers and the letting OF
contracts.
'InterlOcking of Interests"
Referring to a question of inter
locking of interests" Mr.. Gilbert told
his colleagues that the biggest and
most influential corporations OF the
District meet their municipal obliSa
tions apparently from choice and not
from necessity. The litigation to com
pei them To do so is in the hands of
a corporation counsel. who is appoint
ed by the District Commissioners and
who. as a rule. either in person or
by friends. is influential on the board
+ directors Of the corporation. Al
though | have not all the figures.
there are, in my opinion, millions OF
dollars owing to the District by these
corporations and a mere gesture is
made to compel them to pay. Five
corporations alone have unsettled
balances against them on the tax col
lector's books of 1861 900. some OF IL
due and owing for . years and a
large part of ii by the Washington
Terminal Co. which is permitted by
the Commissioners to receive proftts
by discriminating among its pas
sengers.
Not only that. but under a most
peculiar arrangement certain lighting
bills owing by this corporation are
charged and paid by the District,
which in turn Is supposed TO recover
il from the company, but for several
years the company has not paid that.
In answer to a question from me
as 10 WnetnSF III not tiliS
not only did not pay it's taxes but had
the District pay its lighting bill as
we'll, the corporation counsel answer
cd. Yes, it is a sad fact. This corpo-
ration counsel is falling far short of
protecting the District in its legal
rights.
Mr.. Gilbert in prefacing his specific
censor of particular District officials
told his colleagues that there is a
we'll organized system within the Dis
trict consisting of men bound together
by social, financial and political asso-
citation so lnterlocking and dovetail-
ing that the virus permeates the en-
tire municipal body. These men are
associated as directors of social clubs.
hotels, taXicab companies, banks and
public utilities, and in none of the
municipal activities do the interests
of the citizens appear to be the first
concern of the officials. The street
space in front OF the hotels and the
choice platforms at the Union Station
are reserved for preferred taXicab
companies"
Urges Probe Be Authorized.
Mr.. Gilbert strongly urged that the
Gibson resolution for a joint commit
tee of the House and Senate to go
thoroughly into an examination of the
municipal administration should be
passed before Congress adjourns.
Mr.. Graham said: Il wish merely to
make a protest. l do not desire to
make a speech or discuss the subject
spoken of by the gentleman from
Kentucky, Mr.. Gilbert. I certainly
was panied to see in another body a
discussion carried on by distinguished
Senator's l am panied to hear on the
floor of this House a discussion of the
merits of a matter that Is under in
yestigation in the judiciary commit
tee of the House and is so situated.
that it is like the case of a jury that
is out considering a case and having
argument made on the floor OF the
House on the merits of the case. l
wish to protest against it in the name
of fairness and of justice.
Refuses to Yield.
Mr.. Graham refused to yield for a
question by Representative Rankin,
Democrat. of Mississippi.
Continuing he said: These gentle
men who were conducting this case
before the judiciary committee of the
House cannot complain that they were
not afforded every scope and oppor-
tunity to produce evidence before that
committee. You charged us with the
dutv Of making this investigation.
wish to say that the committee has
proceeded in a spirit of perfect fair
ness and candor, giving every oppor'
tunity. more than the law requires, to
produce evidence in support OF the
charges against this citizen.
II understand that before l came