Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-31
.FENN|NG EXPLAINS
"MUzzL|NG" ORDER
Rule Adopted in 1914, Sent
EIdridge, Proves Basis of
BIanton Charge.

Charges by Representative Blanton
| heads in the District government had
| been "muzzled,'' District officials be-
| lieve, grew out of the action of Com
missioner Frederick A. Fenning in
sending to Traffic Director M. o.
| Eldridge, recently, a copy of an order
| adopted in 1914. forbidding department
heads from seeking legislation or
appropriations in Congress or giving
| information to members of Congress
| without official permission.
A copy of the standing order was
| given to Mr.. Eldridge soon after he
! wrote to Chairman Capper of the
Senate District committee complain
| ing of the lack of cooperation be-
| tween the Traffic Bureau and the
Police Department, Commissioner
Fenning revealed yesterday. The Com
| missioner said that the traffic director
was the only department head who
was not with the District government
when the order was adopted, and he
| believed Mr.. Eldridge should have II
called to his attention.
Copies Not Sent Others.
Copies of the order were not sent to
any other department head, Mr..
| Fenning explained, because they have
been connected with the District gov.
eminent long enough 20 know of It's
| existence.
! The order reads:
Every head or subordinate of any
| department or office of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia who
| shall desire to apply to either house
OF Congress or to any committee of
| either house Of Congress or to any
member of Congress for legislation or
for appropriations or for congression-
al action of any kind affecting his
| department or office shall apply to the
Commissioner in immediate charge of
such department or Office for permits
sion to make application and shall
make such application if permission
Is granted through such Commission.
er or the Board of Commissioners eX
cept when acting under the direction
of such Commissioner or Board OF
commissioners; and whenever such
head or subordinate is called upon Il
respond in writing 10 any request for
information from either house of Con
gresS. or any committee of either
mouse OF Congress, or any member OF
Congress. he shall SO inform the Com
missioner in immediate charge of his
department or office or the Board OF
commissioners and shall make his re
Spouse through such Commissioner oil
the Board of Commissioners, except
! when summoned to appear before
Congress or one of its committees
! "A disregard of any of the provi
sions of this order shall be followed
by such disciplinary measures as may
be deemed appropriate.
Want to Know Informant.
While Commissioner Eenning and
other officials declined to comment on
Mr.. BlantonS charges which We're
made on the floor of the House, il was
indicated that they believe the state.
ments We're based on the old order
| which was called to Mr.. Eldridge 5
attention.
The Commissioners are understood
to be anxious to learn who is furnish
ing Mr.. Blanton with the ammunition
for his attacks on them. Mr.. Blanton
however, refused fatty last night To
divulge the informant, but made il
clear that whenever he desires infor.
nation he will get it from department
heads. despite the Commissioners or
der to the contrary