Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-19
CITIZENS COUNCIL
FAVORS FLEHARTY
Advisory Group Endorses Lat
est Nominee for
Council Berth.

| After a 3o-minute debate, the Citi-
| zens' Advisory Council last night in
dorsed the appointment Of Ralph B.
Fleharty as peoples counsel before
| the Public Utilities Commission. The
| vote was to o. Three members
| Fred $. Walker, Robert Faulkner and
! w. /. Swanton--did not vote.
| The resolutions calling for the in
| dorsement OF Mr.. t1eharty was in.
| troduced by Harry N. Stull, who
| threatened to withdraw it when oppo-
sition developed The opposition cen
tered on the support given William
Mex. Clayton, chairman of the public
utilities committee of the Federation
of Citizens Associations, for that ap.
pointment or one as Il member of the
commission by the many citizens as
sociations.
Mr.. Stulrs resolution declared that
Mr.. F'leharty was lin every way
qualified to occupy the position to
| which he had been appointed" and
that early confirmation by the Senate
would be in the interest of the people
of the District.
Withdrawal Threatened.
When several members indicated
that they would not support the reso-
luton, Mr.. Stull asked permission to
withdraw it rather than have the
council refuse to pass it and by this
action embarrass the Presidents ap-
pointee. Mr.. Stub was prevailed
upon, however, not to withdraw the
resolution.
The four members who voted for
the resolution are: Mr.. Stull, George
{. Havenner, DIR. George II. Richard
son and George T. Bleason.
The Gibson bill, designed to remove
the residence restrictions in respect
to officials of the District appointed
by the President, was opposed by the
council in adopting report submitted
by DR.. Richardson.
The proposition to repeal all pro-
visions of existing law which limit
the appointment of certain officials
of the District of Columbia to persons
possessing definite residential uualifi-
cations is one of the tenor of which
has frequently been passed upon by
civic and other representative organi-
cations of this city, and, with prac-
teal unanimity, declared to be I'M
democratic and manifestly unfair and
unjust" declared the report
Privilege Defended.
While the Constitution has con-
ferred upon Congress the power to
exercise exclusive jurisdiction over
the District of Columbia in all cases
whatsoever, many of the most Illus
trious Presidents. statesmen and
Jurists have declared that the purpose
was not to deprive the citizens of the
District the fundamental and essential
privileges of self-government. The
Immortal Lincoln, in speaking of the
subject. said: 1 want to lift men up;
| want to broaden rather than con
tract their privileges
I'm Jones versus Walker, Paine
I. 5. Circuit Court, Richmond. Va,
November term, 1871, Patrick Henry
said: Rights and obligations are
correspondent, co-existent and insepa-
riabie; they must exist together or not
at all Also. We are. therefore, when
stified in all our municipal rights,
clear of every municipal obligation,
burden and onerous engagement
While at the present time we are
not shorn of the very last vestige of
the right of self government, and
therefore not entirely justified in act
ing up the conclusion above indicated,
yet 1t is felt that to be deprived Of
the privilege of having those who are