The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-03-07
IN D. c.
PROBE APRIL |

A climax in the investigation OF
the District government, launched
by the Gibson subcommittee Of the
House District Committee and now
being carried on by three groups
of investigators, will be reached in
about three weeks.
At that time the formal report of
the Bureau of Efficiency on the
traffic-light scandal, which is ex-
pected to lead to a shake.up of the
Traffic Bureau and electrical de.
partment of the District govern.
ment, will be submitted to the
District Commissioners and the Glib
son committee.
Public Hearings
At about the same time, Repre-.
sentative Ernest w. Gibson of YER
mont, chairman of the House sub
committee, announced today, his
committee will hold public hearings
on several important phases of the
local investigations.
Malcolm Kerlin, expert on organi.
zation and maintenance for the
Bureau of Efficiency, who is in
charge OF the local Investigations,
announced today that the bureau is
now making intensive studies of
four major branches of the District
government and will start several
more before the end of next summer
TheGnvestigations now under way
include the Traffic Bureau. which
also is being investigated bv the
Dlstrlct Commissioners; the school
system, the street cleaning and
reIuse department, and charities
and corrections.
Exposures Expected
The joint investigation by the Dis.
trlct Commissioners and the Bureau
OF Efficiency of the traffic-light
irregularities probably will uncover
several startling facts which were
not developed before the Gibson
committee, it was indicated.
whether criminal charges will
be preferred against any District
OFFICIAL as result of violations of
| contract, Justification of vouchers
and other irregularities will depend
largely upon the report of the
bureau.
We are now engaged in study
Of the affidavit submitted last week
oy Col. l. z. Moller, suspended AS
slstant District Traffic Director. and
or the papers which he removed
from the District files and surren.
dered to u.s." Mr.. Kerlin announced
The affidavit, in which Moller i'm.
pl1cates several other District off.
Gals. is being checked item by item
against official records. correspond
ence, and Moller's testimony before
the Gibson cor mittee.
I expect to hold several hearings
IN about three weeks" Representa-
tive Gibson said today. There 9
several matters in connection with
District taxation and the local Police
Court which I desire to take up in
this manner"
Police Court Congestion
The Bureau of Efficiency has
completed survey of methods used
IN the financial clerks office at
Police Court MIR. Kerlin expects
to go into the entire question of
Police Court procedure later this
summer to determine whether any
Improvement in method can be de.
vlsed to cut down the congestion
Of the docket.
The public school Investigation
probably win not be completed be-
fore next fall and owing to the
serious nature of the survey, which
includes charges of mismanagement
OF funds in connection with the
five-year building program, hear
ings by, the Gibson subcommittee
VIII not be held until after Con-
gress convenes and the committee
secures the right to subpoena wit.
nesses and compel them to testify
under oath.
Investigation OF the street clean
ing department Is now nearin2,
completion and a report will be
ready for the Gibson committee
about April /. A study also is be.
ing made of the clerical depart.
ment of the Women's Bureau OF
the Police Department.
The Bureau Of Efficiency in.
vestigation is being handled under
direct supervision of the chief
Herbert ID. Brown. Mr.: Kerlin is
being assisted by w. E. Mickey, ex-
pert on office supply appliances,
and several investigators.