Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
UPHOLD
CLAYTON TACTICS
Executive Committee Re-
buked for Calling Him to
Task on Gas Case.
Continued From First Psge.)

action was taken by seven members out
of II on the committee.
This meeting he said, was called
for the purpose of discrediting the
chairman of the Public Utilities Com
mission-of bringing him into disgrace.
l won't say it was an insult, but it was
close to it, to the committee. My case
was prejudged. The executive COM
mittee took out of the hands of my
committee matter that had been in
trusted by the federation to its care.
If it we're not for my good relations
with the members of the Public Utili-
ties Commission, the action of the ex-
ecutive committee would have discred-
tied me before them. feel that If this
action is sustained, my usefulness as
chairman of this committee is at an
end, and that I must withdraw.
Sought Best for City.
'I presented these motions to get the
very best thing for the citizens of
Washington That is what the citizens
movement is for. Brother Stnngle over
there (Charles I. Stengle Of Petworth) 4,
chairman of the Committee on the Air
port which was sent up to Capitol Hill
10 record our CppOSlllOll W 5ilC OH pm "
came back to us and reported that he
had done nothing He had found out,
he said, that the bill would not pass,
and he deemed the wisest thing was to
let sleeping dogs lie. 1t was a wise
thing to do. Did anybody criticize
him because he did not act the part
of the messenger boy and carry out his
instructions to the letter."
Mr.. Clayton came armed with the
transcript of the entire record of the
hearing before the commission, and
read extracts to show that he had pre-
sented the exact resolution adopted by
the Utilities Committee two days before
the meeting of the Executive Commit
tee, which criticized him for not hav-
ing presented it.
He charged that he had no notice
whatsoever of the subject of the meet
ing until he walked into it. An unfair
advantage was taken of him, he said.
Had he had notice of the subject of the
meeting, as required by the constitu-
ton, he would have come prepared to
defend himself.
Motion Is Supported.
Henry l. Quinn rose to speak in sup
port of the motion. He thoroughly
disagreed with the tactics employed by
MI. SldJ VII JAlC 4llB, AlC odlAy
but as a matter Of right the Executive
Committee could not set itself up as
a court of appeal to approve or dis
approve actions of committee chair
men. This was never intended when
the Executive Committee was created.
Mr.. BowleS rose to defend the COM
mittee by denying that there had been
any intent to discredit or disgrace
Clayton.
do you think it is fair to criticize
him as severely as you did?" interrupt
ed Quinn, and there was loud applause
Clayton. said Bowles, exceeded the
scope of his authority when he made
the motions. He was authorized to do
one thing and did another II the fed
Grafton were to countenance that, 1t
might as we'll disband and discontinue.
Otherwise committee chairmen could
indulge every whim, and an unfortunate
situation would result
A general debate followed. Messrs.
Stengle, William G. Henderson, Harry
N. Stull, Joseph L. Gammell H. w.
Lynn and others supported the execu-
tive committee. Messrs. z. F. Blanch-
ard, w. j. Neale, Miss Eta Taggart