Evening star., 1939-02-17
Bill 10 Limit Fees
Follows Robert
Charges in Georgia
Legislator Is Challenged
In Radio Talk to Prove
Immunity Abandoned
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Feb. 17.-Following a
verbal exchange between a State
Representative and L. w. Robert,
secretary of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, over Roberts s
per cent architectural fee from the
State, move to limit such fees to 8
per cent came before the Georgia
Legislature today.
Mr.. Robert, dapper head of an
Atlanta contracting firm, meanwhile
awaited reply from Representative
Delacey Allen to radio challenge
that Mr.. Allen give tangible form
to waiver of legislative immunity
In his attack on the party leader as
q political architect"
Suit for $4,000 SANDER damages
was filed for Mr.. Robert when Mr..
Allen charged the Democratic secre-
tary was party to stealing the tax.
payers money" on a contract for
work on State insane hospital
Allen spoke in the House of Repre-
sentatives, Floor statements of leg
1slatofS are immune from suit.
Expands Attack.
Yesterday, announcing he waived
immunity, Allen expanded his attack
on Robert to include a charge he
resigned as an Assistant Secretary
OF the Treasury Ito avert national
scandal"
When he filed the damage suit
Mr.. Robert expressed belief Mr.
Allen would claim immunity re
gardless of what he may say now
In a radio speech last night the
architect suggested the legislator
have some newspaper publish his
charges as an eX parte statement
to make certain his immunity was
waived.
Among Aliens charges were that
Robert had 'his fingers in public
works projects all over the United
States and that his activities have
done much to discredit the ma
tionaD administration"
The proposal to restrict archi-
tectural contracts for the State Hos
pital was drafted by State Repre-
sentatives John M. Forester and
Harley Jones for introduction today.
Their measure would absolve the re-
Gently established State Hospital
Authority from legal responsibility
for architectural work or supervision
previously contracted for the S.
100000 hospital project.
In Washington, Secretary of the
Treasury Henry Morgenthau issued
formal statement that Robert re-
signed from his Treasury post vol
unfairly and under honorable cir
Cumstances."
Robert has vigorously defended his
per cent fee for the project before
legislative investigating committee
He told the group he had never used
his political position to further his
business.
Offers to Put on the Gloves.
The stocky, 41-year-old Allen gave
a pugilistic touch yesterday to an
oral broadside against Robert by in
viting him to meet him with gloves
or without"
In the course of an address from
the House floor charging Robert
with corruption, the ex-soldier and
college baseball player challenged
the 51-year-old Georgia Tech foot
ball star in this fashion:
"1f that gentleman who called me
liar and said was cowardly wants
any personal satisfaction, either
with gloves or without, I'll go with
him out to Grant Stadium Georgia
Tech football field and at 81 or S. a
seat I believe we can pay Georgia
out of debt"
Even as Allen launched his second
attack, veteran Senator Paul Lind
say of Decatur arose in the Senate
on point of personal privilege to
defend Robert against "unWar-
ranted. uncalled for and unjustifled
attacks in the House of Representa-
tives" He said Roberts firm did
S25,000 worth of work for Georgia
"gratuitously."
The Senator declared the contract
between the Welfare Department
and Robert & Co. carrying the 6
per cent fee had to be submitted to
Administrator Harold L. Ickes of
the Public Works Administration
"the worst enemy Mr.. Robert has"