Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-08-24
.P|oeser'' sGroup
Votes Against
.Greenbe|t
Two Probers Favor
New Stores in Project;
Potmon Disoerees
By MoIcoIm Lomborne, Jr.

The House Small Business
Subcommittee investigating the
Greenbelt, Md, consumer CO.
operative decided late yesterday
by a 2-to-1 vote that a "monopo-
listic" contract exists between
the Government and the Coop
erative and that private bust
ness should be allowed to enter
the community.
The subcommittee resolution,
adopted in executive session imme-
diately after concluding two days
of testimony. recommended to the
full committee that the Public
Housing Administration take i'm
mediate legal steps to cancel the
monopolistic contract existing be-
tween the Federal Public Housing
Authority and Greenbelt Consumer
Services. Inc
The action drew immediate re-
Spouse from the Public Housing ADJ
ministration. a spokesman of which
declared there was mo intention on
the part of PHA to terminate the
contract merely because the sub
committee has published that
recommendation" PHA Commits
sioner Dillon S. Myer was out of the
city last night.
Evidence Is Asked.
IF the subcommittee considers It
has evidence that the contract is not
in the public interest but is monopo-
listic and discriminatory, the PHA
will be glad to consider that EVIL
dence," the spokesman asserted.
Albert Aren't. attorney for the
cooperative, declared last night sit
looks as if the committee had pretty
we'll made up its mind before the
hearings began and that the hear
ings were just so much window
dressing" He added that there Is
no more monopoly at Greenbelt than
there is in any other planned resi-
Dental community which seeks to
limit the amount of commercial
building for the sake of maintaining
safe and attractive community
Similar sentiments were voiced on
behalf of the Greenbelt Consumer
Services, Inc, by Frank J. Lastner.
secretary of the organization, who
labeled the decision ridiculous and
biased" Mr.. Lastner charged that
"the so-called impartial witnesses
called by the subcommittee eco
nomic counsel were specially hand
picked to prove the preconceived
case of the prosecution.
Witnesses Held Prejudieed.
Most witnesses who testified for
the prosecution were disgruntled
former employees of the coop.
would-be employees. or men who
would benefit by the smashing OF
the Coop" Mr.. Lastner said.
He charged that "the small COM
mittee room used for the hearing
was deliberately picked" to keep out
interested Greenbelt citizens.
The final decision of the subcom-
mittee was rendered SO rapidly, he
added, that it was apparent the sub
committee felt it did not have to
consult all available evidence in or
der to determine its Judgment.
/ After hearing long list Of wit
nesses in the afternoon session tes-
tify in support of the cooperative.
the hearings concluded and the COM
mittee went into executive session.
About 20 minutes later, Chairman
Ploeser announced to reporters that
a resolution had been adopted by .
vote of to /.
! Patman Dissented.
! Mr.. Ploeser and Representative
Riehlman, Republican. of New York.
voted in favor of the resolution.
Representative Patman, Democrat.
of Texas, opposed it.
l Mr.. Patman, ranking minority
member of the full committee. de-
clared afterwards that the existence
OF monopoly at Greenbelt had not
been proved. He served notice that
he intended to carry the fight to
1.-THE full committee and to the House,
if necessary.
The resolution stated the group
See CO-OPERATIVES. Page A-D