Evening star., 1928-04-09
Smell and SChafer Block e.
fort to Bring Up Topic
on House Floor.
TEXAN VIEWS SPEEDING
INCIDENT AS REPRISAL
Lays Reports of Arrest by Motor
Cycle Officer to Enemies in
Police Department.

tee, and Representative Schafer, Re-
publican, of Wisconsin, effectively frus-
trated the effort of Representative
Blanton of Texas to take the Staples
ease on the floor of the House today.
Under the guise of personal privi-
lege" In order to protest newspaper
headlines, Blanton sought to present
to the House his chagrin and indigna-
ton because the Police Trial Board
had found his client. Policeman Orville
STAPLES, guilty on out of Is counts
and recommended his dismissal from
the force, and because the District
Commissioners had refused Mr.. Blan-
tons demand for an immediate retrial
of the case before them.
After 1t was made very evident by
repeated objections by Mr.. Smell and
Mr.. Schafer that they intended to block
all efforts by Mr. Blanton TO discuss the
Staples case, Mr.. Blanton soon seemed
to lose interest in discussing the ques-
ton of personal privilege"
Viewed as Reprisal.
In his rambling argument on the
question of personal privilege Mr.. Blan-
ton insisted upon frequent references
to his series of sensational charges in
the House and said that his charges
against Maj. Edwin B. Hesse. superin-
tendent of the police force. and other
officials high in the police department
were the basis for the stories which
appeared in newspapers March 81 to
the effect that he had been arrested
for speeding.
He declared this was an attempt to
discredit him, was "a deliberate attempt
on the part OF headquarters officials
of the police department TO break me
down because was checking UP on
them for their failure TO do their duty
to make my brain fevered and my
arms tired because had charged the
head of that department and pro-
duced witnesses TO support the charge
that he was guilty OF improper con-
duct"
Mr.. Blanton told the House that this
was q punishment and reprisal for my
attempt 10 protect the people against
the ambitions Of some Of the leaders
in Washington"
Representative Chlndblom. Repub-
lican. of Illinois, and Representa-
tive Linthicufn. Democrat, of Mary
land, were among those who at
tempted to stop the long TRADE by
Mr.. Blanton on the floor by insistence
that he confine himself to the question
of personal privilege. Mr. Schafer in
particular insisted that he should not
attempt to retry the Staples case in
which the trial board had decided the
case against his. client and protege.
Files Affidavit Copies.
Mr.. Blanton put into the record copies
of affidayits by Dalton E. Galimore. a
motor cycle policeman, who was report
ed TO have stopped Mr.. Blanton for
speeding: sworn statement by Elton
j. Layton, clerk of the House committee
on interstate and foreign commerce,
who took Mr.. Galimore's statement; by
Miss Louise Denton, his own secretary
by Inspector Brown of the Traffic
Bureau, and several others regarding
the detention of Mr. Blanton by Motor
Cycle Officer Galimore on that date and
subsequent visits TO his Office by
Galimore and others.
Mr.. Blanton explained that IL was
not Galimore who stopped him. but he
who had stopped Galimore for friendly
chat.
On the demands of several members
OF the House. Speaker Longworth on
several occasions during his speech
warned Mr.. Blanton TO keep within the
rules OF the House In regard to personal
privilege.
Mr. Schafer and Mr.. Chindblom
both demanded 10 know who had drawn
up the text Of the afiidavits which were
presented to the House today, and Mr..
Blanton replied that he would tell the
House fully In regard TO that. but he
neglected to do so before he concluded.
He wound up his discussion Of per-
sonal privilege" by saying, Il think the
papers owe 1t 10 me TO come out and
print retraction."
Commissioners Mark Time.
The District Commissioners marked
time today In the case of Staples.
Representative Blanton Is reported to
be planning TO file the appeal for his
client within the flve-day limit fixed
by law. The Commissioners. however.
have received no word from the Repre-
sentative as to his contemplated course
Of action. In fact, the Commissioners
have not heard from the Texan since
they wrote him Saturday. refusing 10
retry Staples themselves.
Commissioner Dougherty explained
today that Staples would remain on the
suspended list until Friday, and unless
an appeal from the trial boards deci-
sion is noted In the meantime. he would
be dismissed from the force as decreed
by the board. An appeal, however, VIII
serve TO stay the removal OF the police
man until the Commissioners review
the findings Of the board and determine
the procedure 10 be followed.
Another echo OF the Staples case was
heard al the District Building today
when Capt. Guy Il. Burlingame OF the
second precinct, a member Of the trial
board which heard the charges against
the policeman, criticized MIR. Blanton
for his tactics during the To-day trial.
Capt. Burlingame declared that the
Representative was entirely responsible
for the "disgraceful scenes" before the
trial board, and he expressed the hope
that Washington would never have
another trial like that one"