Evening star., 1933-06-26
Two Men Expected to Be
Dropped to Make Room for
New Employees.
GEN. PATRICK TO CONFER
ON COMMISSION CHANGE
District Officials Said to Be En-
barrassed by Personnel
Mix-Up.

Study of housing and rental condi-
tionS in Washington, to determine what
adjustments should be made in rents
was begun today after James Ring
former clerk of the Senate Distric,
Committee, took an oath as investigat-
ing official, administered by Frank E
Cunningham, clerk of the District Su-
preme Court.
At the same time, considerable mys-
terry still prevailed as to what effects
provision of Rings salary out Of per-
sonnel funds of the Public Utilities
Commission would have on the Other
employees of the commission.
Reports at the District Building were
that Frank Buckley, special research
assistant to the commissions legal staff
ment would cease August l. Another
legal assistant also will have to go, it
is declared.
Two Employees to Go.
Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, COM
mission chairman, said the matter had
not been finally settled, but that, Que
to slash in his personnel appropria-
tions, two or more temporary employees
would have to go. The pay of Buckley
and the other assistant comes out OF
a $4,000 contingent allotment in the
commission appropriation for extra re-
search assistance, without regard to
civil service classification requirements
The matter has presented consider
able embarrassment to District officials.
Rings appointment was urged by Sena-
tor King and his qualifications for the
position are universally accepted. At the
same time, Buckley is said to be a
friend of Representative Norton, chair
man of the House District Committee,
and various officials have praised his
work as legislative assistant to the
corporation counsel's staff.
The situation has been outlined in
part in correspondence between the
commission, Representative Norton and
Senator King, the District Building is
informed.
Gen. Patrick to Confer.
The matter will be threshed out to-
day in conferences between Gen.
Patrick and the District Personnel
Board, which will submit a report to
the District Commissioners tomorrow
for action on means to reduce personnel
expenses within appropriations.
Ring personally is not involved in
the decision one way or another, since
he assumed his duties this morning,
bringing to his quarters in the Utilities
Commission a large box OF records on
rents compiled by the Senate Com
mittee.
He said his work would be in two
classes: First, to engage in a fact
finding survey to determine rental and
other conditions regarding Washington
housing
Objects to Bitterness.
Il am seeking facts, not opinions, I"
he emphasized. "The whole situation
has been rather beclouded by bitter
ness between tenants, landlords and
owners. Facts cannot be obtained If
bitterness is permitted.
The commission survey must be en-
tirely impartial and unbiased If de-
sirable results are to be obtained.
After all, the study was ordered by the
Senate for the benefit of the people of
washington as a whole"
The second phase of the work will be
to seek adjustment of rent levels where
the facts produced convince the COM
mission changes are necessary.
Ring said the commission soon would
outline policy regarding public hear
tngs and such questions as 'black-
listing" OF tenants who break leases,
claiming they cannot longer pay rents
stated In their leases, etc.
The commission in the next day or
Two will prepare forms on which ten
ants may list the facts In their COM
plants.