Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-24
Executive Session of Fedora
ton Committee Described
as Three-Hour Battle.
ACTION MADE PUBLIC
IN UTILITIES RESOLUTION
Functions of Chairman of Citizens
Committee Described as Those
of Messenger Boy"

MISUNDERSTANDING battle with
in the executive committee of the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations last
Saturday night over the stand taken at
the recent gas rates hearing by william
NICK. Clayton, chairman of the fedora
TONS Public Utilities Committee, which
wound up with the Executive Commit
tee repudiating Clayton's proposals at
the hearing, came to light today.
AT the same time, it became known
that every effort had been made to keep
details of the warning session from be-
coming public.
The battle conferred around the
presentation by Mr.. Clayton of the
case of the federation at the hearings
by the Public Utilities Commission on
the petition by the Washington Gas
Light Co. for change in the gas rates.
On the night prior to the first hearing,
which took place last Wednesday, the
Public Utilities Committee held a meet
ing, at which President @. A. G. Wood
and Vice Presidents Woodhead and
Fraser Of the gas company and Peoples
Counsel Richmond B. Keech were
present.
Urged More Equitable Rates.
After hearing both sides, the COM
mittee adopted resolution favoring
the change in rates in principle, but
asking for a more equitable rate for
those gas consumers whose bill is now
less than $2.20 per month, all of whom
would be faced with increased bills
should the schedule presented by the
company be approved.
The first thing that happened at
the hearing next day was the presenta-
ton of two motions by MIR. Clayton ask
ing for dismissal of the petition with
out prejudice and for a revaluation
OF the property of the company. Mem
bers OF the Executive Committee, which
acts for the federation during the SUM-
mer recess and who were familiar with
the action taken by the Public Utilities
Committee of the federation, are said
to have been enraged at the resultant
publicity, which put the federation in
the light OF having lost two points at
the outset OF the hearing. They took
the position that Clayton had not been
authorized to make the motions. Pres
ident George G. Havenrler was absent
from the city, but Vice President b A.
Bowles sent out a call for the Executive
Committee to meet in the office of SecA
rotary David Babp last Saturday night.
Held Merely Messenger Boy"
The committee duty met at 8 o'clock,
and from then for 3l2 hours 1t Is report
ed battle ragged. The keynote was struck
by Thomas z. Lodge, American Univer-
sity Park, who it was said asserted that
the authority conferred on Mr.. Clay
ton, by the Public Utilities Committee
was merely that of a messenger boy"
He should, Mr.. Lodge is reputed to
have said, have acted merely in this
capacity in taking to the Public Utilities
Commission the resolution, depositing
1t with the commission, and departing.
Any other action deserves the censure
OF the federation, according to his re-
ported views.
Mr.. Lodges views were echoed by j.
Lewis Goldman, Congress Heights;
Charles I. Stengel, Petworth; James G.
Yaden, Petworth; Edwin S. Hege, Chevy
Chase, and others, it was said. Reso-
iutionS began to pour in thick and fast.
Mr.. Bowles, however, did not enter
tain them. He appointed a special
committee to retire and draw up a
resolution making the stand of the
Executive Committee plain and point
ing out that Mr. Clayton had exceeded
MS authority. On the committee were
Joseph L. Gammell, Lincoln Park; Ed
win s. Hege and Thomas E. Lodge.
The committee came back with a
resolution which was howled down, and
amendments and substitutes for the
resolution began to be offered. Mr..
Yaden, Mr.. Stengel and Mr. Goldman
were among those offering amendments
to the committees resolution. Finally
a suitable resolution was adopted. Mr..
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