Evening star., 1939-11-29
Law Officers
Elect Anderson
Al Final Session
EIwood Seal Named
Treasurer Again;
Resolutions Voted

Joseph w. Anderson, city attorney
of Chattanooga, Tenn, today was
elected president Of the National
Institute of Municipal Law Officers
at the final session of. its three-day
conference at the Mayf1ower Hotel.
Mr.. Anderson, who served as vice
president last year, succeeds Barnet
Hodes, corporation counsel OF
Chicago.
Elwood H. Seal, corporation coun-
sci of Washington, was reelected
treasurer. William C. Chanler, cor
poration counsel of New York City,
was named vice president.
Mr.. Anderson, who was the choice
of the Nominating Committee, was
named after a fight began on the
floor, when Jerome I. Meyers, city
solicitor of Scranton, Pa, took
issue with a statement of the Nomi-
mating Committee chairman, Dar-
lington Hopes of Reading, Pa. that
Mr.. Anderson was the unanimous
choice of the committee. Mr.. Meyers
said he put forward the name Of
Mr.. Hodes for reelection.
Hodes Named to Board.
A vote taken on the two nominees
gave Mr.. Anderson total of II to 10
for Mr.. Hodes. Mr.. Hodes, however,
was named to the Board of Trustees.
Others named on this committee
were Mr.. Meyers, Walter J. Mat
tison, city attorney of Milwaukee,
Wis; Harold P. Huls, city attorney
of Pasadena, Calf, and Philip H.
Hill, city solicitor of Charleston,
w. Va.
The institute adopted a resolution
urging the adoption of a bill pending
in the Senate that would expand
the housing program under the
United States Housing Authority by
an increased authorization for loans
and subsidies.
Housing and Relief.
Declaring that the public housing
program has provided employment
for thousands of workers in building
industries, the resolution pointed
out that the housing program has
reduced the relief problem Of cities
and towns to the extent of the num-
ber employed.
The Institute also went on record
recommending that Congress con-
tinue operation of the Public Works
Administration from the present
deadline of June 80, 1910, to June 80
1941. declaring in resolution "the
continuation of such aid is of vital
Importance to the future develop
ment and welfare of communities
where such projects are urgently
needed
The Institute also hit at the legal
"straight-jacket" of Federal and
State restrictions and adopted a
resolution asking actually home
rule should be granted all cities SO
that matters of local concern can
be administered by local officials
who are answerable directly to local
voters for their conduct
The association heard a mes
sage from President Roosevelt
last night praising their efforts
to harmonic" the relationship OF
the municipality and Federal Gov
ernment.
Read at dinner at the MayfloWer
Hotel by Mr.. Hodes, the President IS
letter congratulated the group on its
effort "to harmonic in legal way
those aspects of municipal govern
ment which call for understanding
of the new relationships brought
about by the changes in the admin
istration of the Federal Govern
ment."
The President pointed out that
the institute tended to fill the
pressing need for an agency to
provide cooperative means by
which our citizens may meet the
new legal problems which arise
from general urban development"
Airmail Discussed.
L. Welch Pogue, general counsel
of the Civil Aeronautics Authority
and Comdr Raymond j. Kelly Of
the American Legion, former presi-
dent of the institute, were the other
speakers on the program.
Mr.. Pogue, discussing airmail
subsidies, said that the nominal
revenues of carriers have shown a
substantial increase and no longer
can the industry as whole be
financially regarded as on the verge
of ignominious burial in potters
field"
Mr.. Kelley touched on the part
that the Legion played, by its stand
at the Chicago convention, in Gre
ating, he said, the present con-
fidence" that this Nation can avoio
becoming involved in the war.