The Washington times., 1927-03-02
GIBSON FIGHTS TO EXTEND
HOUSE PROBE OF DISTRICT
" Al o. N.
GIBSON

"A last minute effort to extend
the life Of the Gibson subcom-
lmittee Of the House District
Committee, now engaged in an IN
vestigation Of the traffic light
scandal, was made in the House
today.
Representative Ernest w. Glib
son, Of Vermont, chairman Of the
committee, introduced a resolu-
ton authorizing the committee to
continue its investigation during
the summer, with authority to
summon witnesses and compel
the submission Of papers and
documents. The resolution was
referred to the Rules Committee.
Expects Consideration
The chairman OF the committee
expects to obtain consideration on
the floor to call up his resolution
under suspension Of the rules which
would necessitate q two-thirds vote
for its passage.
An effort to hold q special meet.
ing Of the committee late today is
being made by the chairman.
He conferred with several mem
bers of the committee but owing to
the uncertain state Of affairs on
the floor. was unable to decide
when the committee viii meet.
He plans to consider the question
of delinquent taxes owed the District
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company and other similar corpor-
atoms.
According to a report from the
District Assessors office, these cor.
| porations owe the District approx
mately $1,600,000, some Of which
have remained unpaid for ten years.
School Case In Doubt
An investigation Of the alleged
waste Of money In construction OF
Western High School, scheduled for
tonight, may be postponed.
There is little prospect of action
by the committee today on the traf-
Efic light scandal. Bureau OF Eff
cheney experts have not completed
examination OF documents sur.
rendered by Colonel Moller and until
this Is done there win be no further
action by the committee.
T. Lincoln Townsend, vice presI-
dent Of the National Electrical Sup
ply Company, local agents for the
Grouse Kinds Company, Of Syracuse,
contractors for the traffic control
lights, called on the Commissioners
today. He offered the cooperation
Of his company in the Investigation
Of the scandal.
Townsend. representing his COM
pany in the absence from the city
of e. c. Graham. president, told the
Commissioners that the flies and
records of the company are open.
All three COMMISSIONS today at
tackled recent entertainments made
by the executive branch of the
Federal Government into the au-
thority OF the District government.
District Rights Attacked
The rights vested in the Com
missioners by the organic act of
1870, establishing the District gov.
eminent in its present form, must
be protected. they declared.
Among those departments of the
Federal government from which
the District heads particularly fear
Intervention are the budget bureau,
the general accounting office and
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
At the time the Park Commission
was established Commissioner Bell
had the wording Of the law changed
to prevent acts OF the Commission
from binding him in the admins
tration OF his office as District Com.
missioner.
Since that time there have been
several attempts at encroachment,
the most recent OF which, was a
proposal at the Capitol to give the
Park Commissions supervision over
the Commissioners action in clos.
ing streets on. the highway plan.
This duty inherently belongs to
the Commissioners they claim.