Evening star., 1928-03-18
FEDERATION BARS
RESTRICTED OFFICE
Citizens Refuse to Reject
Members of Utility
Corporations.

The question of whether 1t Is ethical
for the president or any other elected
Official OF the Federation OF Citizens
Associations to hold Office In a public
utilities corporation operating in the
District arose on two occasions at the
meeting OF the federation last night,
causing sharp debate. and both times
motions TO place in the constitution
restrictions against officers holding such
posts were rejected by decisive vote.
The question came to the fore re-
Gently during discussion OF the proposed
merger OF the transportation lines of
the District when 1t developed that
James @. Yaden. president OF the fed
Grafton and ex-officio head OF the Cit
izens Advisory Council. was a director
OF the Washington Rapid Transit Co.
Subsequently. the federation at a recent
meeting acquiesed In his holding once
on the board OF the bus concern, the
approval being by unanimous vote.
Offers 10 Quit Post.
When the matter again arose at the
meeting last night. MIR. Yaden turned
the craftsmanship OF the meeting over
to George c. Havenner. vice president.
and declared that this motion evidently
Is aimed at me" He reminded the Fed
Grafton delegates that he had asked
their consent and obtained their ap-
prevail before accepting the position on
the board OF the W. r. r.
During the debate on the question,
injected into the session first by w. l.
SWanton OF the Columbia Heights Cat
liens Association, Mr.. Yaden declared
Il viii resign here tonight II any dele
gate to this association can rise to his
feet and show that at any time have
used this Office to influence the vote
OF any member on any question Affect
ing public utility questions"
The federation last night also adopt
ed numerous amendments TO the con-
stitution OF the organization, submitted
by special committee headed by Jesse
c. Suter. and adopted rules for the cleo
ton OF members OF the Citizens Advis-
ory Council, which Is to be held at the
next regular meeting OF the federation
April z. President Yaden announced
that special meeting would be held
March 81 for the consideration of. COM
mittee reports and other unfinished
business. On motion by DR.. Havenner
the federation Endorsed the Brown bill
now pending In Congress. which would
make available for the purchase OF PARK
lands in the metropolitan area OF the
National Capital, a portion OF the funds
which accrued from the sale OF excess
war materials
Increased Dues Barred.
One important proposed amendment
to the constitution of the federation
which would have provided for an in
crease In the dues OF member bodies OF
the organization from $40 TO SIS a year
was defeated after considerable debate
Almost at the outset OF the consldera-
tion OF the proposed amendments To
.hc federation constitution, Mr. swan
ton offered al an amendment To Ar.
ticle Il new section tn read
NO employe or officer Of public
utility operating within the District of
Columbia shall be eligible To take or
hold ONO: In The federation. nor shall
any delegate who has agreed for com.
pensation To support or oppose, or to
cause others To support or oppose, mat
ters pending before the federation be
eligible To vote upon these matters
Mt, Suter Immediately came to the
defense OF President Yaden by propos-
ing to amend the motion by MIR.
SWanton IA make II read as heinp ef-
lion except IAN employe OF the Federal
or District governments Mi Yaden Is
an employe Of the Federal Government
Delegate Suter added however. that his
amendment was made half In lest AZ
Dr. HaVenner took the chair vacated
by Mr.. Yaden and ruled that the
siwant0n motion was not essential 10
the question OF amendments to the
constitution then pending before the
organization.
Proposal Ruled Out.
The federation then proceeded with
consideration OF constitutional amend
menta proposed by the Suter commit
tee. but the matter Of tho SWanton pro-
pnsal again bobbed up when q, NJ,
kooekogey Of the Trinidad Citizens
Association. supported by Lewis uelh~
man, proposed that the latter half ot
the swanton amendment he conald.
cred as an amendment 10 section I,
article nf the constitution. This would
have made II impossible tor any deles
gate Ia the federation who engaged for
compensation IN either supporting or
opposing matters affecting public utility
questions 10 Vnta on surh matters when
before the federation,
Chairman Havenner again ruled the
proposal ont OF order as al amend-
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