Evening star., 1928-03-31

cessions. He replied that he had dis
cussed the matter with the hack in
spector. who would be able TO give the
committee valuable information Mr.
Gibson said he would call the hack m
spector as a witness, and that Mr.
GasSenheimer is entitled 10 the same
consideration as any other bus line. no
more. no less. Here. apparently. is a
line of business paying 10 the hotels
to secure a special privilege over their
competitors If the hotels were paying
a public official it would be bribery. but
the underlying principle here Is the
same"
Franchises ASsailed.
Mr.. Gibson stated his views that the
hotels had no right 10 sell exclusive
privileges for a bus stand on the puoilc
streets that belong to all the people
Representative Gilbert questioned
Commissioner Taliaferro regarding the
testimony given yesterday BY inspector
Brown of the Traffic Bureau. 70 the
effect that recommendations of the
Bureau of Efficiency. in which he con-
Cured. for establishment OF an open
taxi stand adjacent To the hotels mad
been laid before the Commissioners last
Fall. Commissioner Taltaferro replied
that the Commissioners are still con-
siderine the report.
Mr.. Gilbert emphasized that this mat
ter has been discussed by the commit
tee for four years, that II Is a situa-
ton which exists In no other city. that
the law under which II is justified was
given IS years ago when traffic cOndI-
tinnS were different. and that ne be-
lieved II the duty of the Commissioners
10 reach a decision as soon as possible
Mr. Gibson argued that the District
should rent these concessions TO taxi
cabs and sightseeing buSSeS instead Of
allowing hotels TO sell the space that
belongs to the people. and insisted tha,
under such license fees the city should
be receiving several times as much rev.
enue as II now receives.
Intolerable Conditions.
Mr.. Hammer said thar conditions
that now exist are iutoierable and in
defenSible and Mr. Gilbert agreed with
him
Stating his belief that ths committee
in bringing officers from the ranks who
are without influence before ii and
forcing them to give testimony makes
II uatAeI Oh justice AuI tglt COtulIlltct'
to protect and defend such witnesses as
far as possible, Mr. Gilbert pat into the
record the following statement;
Controversial publicity is disagree
able TO me. but l would feel cowarCily
II | did not raise my voice In behalf
OF what my conscience feels 10 be- true
Regardless of what Mr.. McCauade, fore
man OF the grand jury. has said and Of
what the grand jury found | am sure,
In my own mind, that the evidence OF
Offlcer Heilmuth and other testimony
given before the Gibson committee
against McQuade was absolutely true
and every member of the committee
who heard all the evidence. men expert
ned on Tn bench. came To the same
''iIellmuth'S removal may have been
for. the good OF the service but 1t was
also for the good Of the gamblers and
was certainly not good for the public
One who has knowledge Of the methods
Of the selection of iurieS and other ac-
tivitseS pertaining 10 court functions in
the District does not feel that the
grand lury'S report is necessarily free
Of influence"
REPRESENTATIVES Gilbert and Hammer
in the opinion that He'll
muth told the truth