Evening star., 1934-11-06
"Not Whole TRUTH" Says
Peoples Counsel of Util-
tiles Board Charge.
STATEMENT CLAIMS
APPROVAL OF PROJECTS
Commission Declares Its Critic
Failed to Object to Actions
Originally.

lie Utilities Commission and Peoples
Counsel William A. Roberts over the
charge by the latter that the COM
mission had predetermined some re-
routing changes prior to public hear
ings grew apace today when Roberts
denied the truth OF statements made
by the commission.
After Roberts had made his accuSa-
tion the commission issued a long
statement designed to show that the
peoples counsel had been advised OF
a number of early route changes or
dered by the commission and TO show
that he himself had agreed to the
necessity for early action in specific
cases.
The peoples counsel today issued
a sharp rejoinder declaring that the
statement he had approved all prof.
ectS to date lis simply not the whole
truth"
The developments of the past two
days have served to aggravate the
relations between the peoples counsel
and the commission which heretofore
have been strained
Radical Suggestions.
The present development AROSE
from a comprehensive outline Roberts
is preparing for submission to the
commission on rerouting matters, ir
which he has suggested a number
Of radical new plans and criticized
developments in the rerouting study
claiming among other things that al
that has been accomplished to date
is a shortening Of trackage and 6
leSSenlng Of service He proposed
that the Capital Transit Co. be or
dered to spent S1000,000 on new
equipment to give the public the
improved service promised by the
company when the merger legislation
vas under consideration.
Replying to the rejoinder issued BY
the commission last night, Roberts
said today:
II am delighted at the spirit anc
fire of the commissions response
even if it is fitting at a straw man
Now if its members will direct g
part Of that energy against the
transit company, perhaps We will gel
AlpIONSU SCI VICE.
OF course, its statement that
have approved all projects to date is
simply not the whole truth. Even tC
this day, I do not approve the F
street rerouting by way of Wisconsin
avenue and M street.
Furthermore, it must not be for.
gotten that until a few weeks ago
was serving as counsel of the com.
mission and as such could only ad-
wise it. 1t was at the insistence Of
the commission that it wanted ar
independent peoples counsel that the
District Commissioners separated the
jobs.
To Await Orders.
"Well, they have an independent
peoples counsel now, but I'm not 60
ing to tilt at any straw men. II
wait until the orders come out to SEE
whether the commission really intends
to improve service substantially
Roberts told reporters today that he
had not Criticized" the commission
for issuing the several orders for spe.
cific route changes. He said he merely
was stating in his report what orders
the commission had issued. That wa;
the meaning of his claim that the
commission was fitting at straw man
Roberts statements on rerouting
struck fire at last Saturdays meeting
of the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions. Taking action on the state
ment that the commission had pre-
determined" rerouting changes before
completing public hearings, the fedora.
ton unanimously decided to investi-
gate the matter. William NICK. Clay.
ton, chairman of the federation:
Utilities Committee, declared: Either
the commission should be removed
from Office or the peoples counsel ha:
forfeited his right to the confidence
of the people"
The Utilities Commission last nigh
issued the following statement:
The commission has noted in the
press certain statements purported tt
have been made by the peoples coun
Sci in connection with memorandum
relating to the rerouting hearing. Tht
commission has not received the docu
ment in question.
No Limitations.
"The statements suggestion tina
certain limitations were placed by tn,
commission upon the proposals to b.
made by the experts as to the desired
rerouting. No restriction or limitation
of any character was placed upor
those over whom the commission hae
control. The experts appearing OF
behalf of the commission specificall.
stated on the stand that no limitation
had been placed upon the scope o
their inquiry. The order issued by tn
commission in connection with tn
Terouting investigation is all embrac
ing and without limitation. This or
der constituted the sole instruction t,
the experts employed for the purpos
o. making recommendations in thi
ease
The press likewise reports that th'
memorandum to be filed states ther
had been predetermination by tn,
commission as to certain major fac
tors prior to the general hearing
There was no predeterminatlon. No
until after two hearings in this case
OAAS AL EAuSloI dllQ OlIC al ASPeSAASSA
lasting number of days, was con
clusion reached or any order issuet
with reference to changes. Each prof
ect so far approved by this commits
sion was done with the full knowledgt
and advice, and without object, en- thu
part OF the peoples counsel. Prelim
mary drafts were submitted to him il
each instance, and he suggested sucl
changes as deemed proper at the tim
formal action was taken.
Indicating clear acquiescence Of
the part of the peoples counsel tina
certain orders issued with reference t,
various proposals made during th
hearing, especially in the light o
, newspaper comment relating to the !
street trackage, are the following ex
tracts from the record CT Septembe
IA, pages 1442-43:
Chairman Elgen: If there is n,