Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-19
DRIVING
Continued From First Page

the DiSetrict OPA, the first pleasure
driving hearings were conducted in
varying fashion by the three ration
boards.
All members of the Massachusetts,
| avenue board and of Board No. 40
/ Seventh and D streets Sc. were
present and said they planned to
fix no penalties except by majority
| vote.
Two of the three members of
Board No. AZ were absent for bust
ness reasons. however, and Chair
man Xidon, an accountant, con-
Quoted the hearings. assisted by the
chief clerk and an assistant.
This boards procedure appeared
to be in accordance with the instruc-
tions from the regional OPA which
District OPA Director Whitney Leary
sent to the local boards for their
guidance. These instructions permit
| hearings to be held by a single
| member of a ration board or by a
special panel appointed by the
chairman.
Leary Proposes Majority Hearings.
Mr.. Leary said In statement
Saturday. however, that hearings in
the District would be conducted by
a majority of the members of
board.
The District hearings yesterday
we're open to the public and press,
after Mr.. Leary yesterday afternoon
reversed an earlier ruling that ses-
sions would be secret. Motorists
were asked to tell their stories and
then were questioned briefly.
First local hearings were to have
been conducted by Board No. 40. but
when Chairman w. j. Mcnamara
and members James D. Yochum and
F. D. Klimkewicz gathered at
pm, they found no alleged pleasure
drivers waiting to present explana-
tions.
Two OF the four summons sent out
by the board we're returned by local
postal authorities because of incor-
rect address, Chairman Mcnamara
announced. The two pleasure driv-
ing suspects, who apparently had
violated the District motor code by
failing to notify police of a change
of address, would be sent other
notices after investigation to deter
mine where they live, Mr.. Nc
Namara said.
Telephone Excuse Accepted.
The board then briefly considered
the case of John r. Battenfield, who
telephoned to say he could not be
present for the hearing Mr.. Bat
tenfleld accounted for his presence
near the Shoreham Hotel the night
of January 8 by revealing he was a
musician playing for an Arkansas
State Society dance at the Shore
ham on the night in question, The
board quickly checked his assertions
with his application for B" ration
book, which showed his occupation.
and with the hotel 1t was decided
| to accept the explanation, since facts
were not complicated, but Mr.. Nc
Namara pointed out this hearing by
! telephone could not be considered
precedent.
Three of six persons cited TO ap-
pear before Board No. II, at 1740
Massachusetts, avenue NV. failed to
show up, The other three had
explanations that the board &C
cepted
Evidence presented in one hearing
revealed an automobile in which the
chief OPA District investigator, C. N.
Workman another OPA inspector
and newspaper reporter were cruis-
ing to determine the extent of en-
forcement of the pleasure driving
ban was listed for suspected violation
of the ban while parked in front of
the Shoreham Hotel January 8.
This unusual twist was discovered
when Mrs. Thelma S. Hess of 2031
Belmont road NV. summoned tt