Evening star., 1945-07-27
Fan & BiII's Penalty
Cited as Instance Of
|WooIIey Interference

Charges OF "unwarranted interfer-
e1cea in OPA enforcement cases, in
cluding the suspension last year OF
Fang& Bills Restaurant here, have
been lodged against Daniel p. WOOL
ley, regional head Of the agency
with Offices in New York City, by
Paul L. Ross, suspended regional
enforcement executive.
Mr.. Ross, filing his defense against
an custer proceeding, declared that
he had received telephone call
from Robert X. Thompson, District
OPA director, asking that the Fan
& BilPs suspension be vacated.
Mr.. Thompson said today that he
had discussed the question with Mr..
Ross and Mr.. Woolley in a trip to
New York earlier this year. Mr..
Ross was strongly opposed to his re-
quest of relief for the restaurant,
while Mr.. Woolley agreed that the
case should be reconsidered, Mr.
Thompson said.
Order Still Stands.
The local official said the restau-
rants request for modification of
the order, which went into effect
in May, 1914. never was granted and
that the establishment still is for
hidden to serve rationed meats so
far as I know"
He said local investigators had
made number of inspections of
Fan g. Bills and found no evidence
that the order was being violated.
In addition, the operators presented
evidence that they were losing con-
siderable money through loss of
patrons.
After that, we felt that they were
worth another chance" Mr.. Thomp-
son said.
Duration Suspension.
Fan & Bill's was given duration
suspension of dealing in rationed
meats on charges of purchasing
several thousand pounds of meat
without giving up red points.
In New York, according to the
Associated Press, Mr.. Ross declared
in formal statement that the ad-
ministrator's attitude and conduct
in Office represents serious effort
by a high public official to stifle
positive and vigorous price control
enforcement"
His attempt to remove me is part
Of this plan," the assistant asserted.
In a 25,000-word reply to the
charges Mr.. Woolley made in sus-
pending him, Mr.. Ross demanded q
public hearing of his case before
an impartial board.
Charges Called General.
He also made public for the first
time the administrator letter of
suspension, which said Mr.. Ross had
maintained IAN attitude Of self in
terest, and a complete lack of re-
spect for the policies and opinions
Of regional and district operating
officials"
He said the letter continued:
TT is further charged that your
services are no longer satisfactory
to your fellow operating executives
by reason of your defiant, indiffer-
ent and dictatorial attitude which
has created situation that is detri-
mental to the efficient operation" of
the regional OPA.
The suspended Official said of the
accusations: They are not real
charges of malfeasance, misfeas-
ance or nonfeasance. They are vague
generalizations and conclusions of
Mr.. Woolley's mind, which fails to
contain any specifications"
Citing lists Of court cases which
he charged that Mr.. Woolley had
attempted '"to influence" the
suspended man said his former su-
perior was guilty of general hos
tility to and obstruction of national
enforcement policies and conduct
which renders him unfit to con-
tinue as a regional administrator 4"
He said Thomas I. Emerson, until
recently national deputy admins
traitor for enforcement was so
gravely concerned over the actions
Of Mr.. Woolley In disrupting the
enforcement activities" that he ode
manded the removal of Mr.. Wool
ley" in strong memorandum to