Evening star., 1937-07-16
MalOdOrOus.

II the abattolr projected for conStruc-
ton and operation in Benning causes
malodorous condition as bad as that of
the maneuvers incident to the proposed
legislation intended to prevent its estab-
lishment it will indeed be an unbearable
affliction upon the public health and
comfort. An amazing sequence Of de-
velopments has occurred that leaves the
public and the District and Federal
authorities who are seeking to avert an
obnoxious condition in a perplexing
quandary. The record of happenings is
simply related.
On Wednesday last legal represent
ative of the abattoir company appeared
before the House District Committee
with only seven of the twenty -one men,
bers OF the committee present-and pre-
sented on behalf Of the company pro-
posal that the company would abandon
its project and quit the District on
payment OF 100000 in compensation
for damages. The seven members OF
the committee thereupon went into ex-
ecutive session and voted to table the
pending bill and then, to clinch the
matter, laid upon the table motion to
reconsider the tabling vote, which is an
effective parliamentary maneuver to
prevent further action.
This action by the House committee
was not regarded at the time as of seri-
Gus moment, inasmuch as the statement
given by the legal representative of the
company was regarded as authoritative
and binding. However, yesterday it de-
veloped that the counsel for the COM
pany had either unwittingly or otherwise
misinformed the committee, for the pres
ident Of the abattoir company announced
that notwithstanding the assurances
given by the counsel to the committee
instructions were being issued to the
contracting company to proceed at once
with the building of the plant, at such
speed as to have it ready for operation
about October l.
The specific declaration by the COM
pany's counsel that the building plans
were to be abandoned, the committees
speedy decision-by the action of only
one-third of its membership-to table
the prohibitory measure and then to
table motion for reconsideration, fol-
lowed in quick order by the announce
ment by the head OF the corporation
that construction would be started at
once and speeded to effect completion
by October /, all this makes wretched
mess of misunderstanding, if not some
thing quite worse.
Either the counsel for the corporation
who is supposed upon all such occa-
sions to speak as with the voice of his
principal-spoke without authority, or
his pledge of discontinuance was given
as the basis for the extraordinary
maneuver Of the one-third membership
OF the committee in tabling the bill and
then tabhng motion to reconsider the
tabling vote. If the committee was de-
ceived 1t has its remedy in an immediate
action to secure from the House of
Representatives power to bring the bill
to the House on the ground Of deception
on the part of the corporation through
Its legal representative. If it does not
thus act, with as much speed as present
difficult conditions permit, it becomes
suspect Of completely in maneuver of
deceit.
Thus the savor of the projected abat-
toir OF the near future attends the pres
ent situation. 1t is a decidedly malodor-
Gus condition of Misrepresentation, ques-
tionably prompt congressional compli-
ance and brazen enterprise.