Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-07
Stefan Defends Young,
Calls Dinner Speech
Honest and Sincere

Representative Stefan, Republi-
can, Of Nebraska, has come to the
defense of Commissioner John Rus
sell Young, whose speech of welcome
to new members of Congress Tues
day night led Chairman designasS
Mcmillan of the House District
Committee to say the District needs
q new Commissioner"
Mr.. Stefan said he had heard
many favorable comments on the
speech, made at a Washington
Board of Trade banquet.
Il thought it was a good, honest,
sincere speech" commented Mr.
Stefan, long time friend of the
District, who has served on the
House Appropriations subcommittee
handling the District budget.
Commissioner Young" he added,
ais so filled with his interest in the
District budget, he's so sincere about
getting enough money to run the
District as it should be run, that
he wanted to tell the new members
about the fiscal situation of the Dis
trfct and that the situation is not
good"
Heard Speech Delivered.
Mr.. Stefan attended the banquet
at which Commissioner Young de-
livered his controversial speech. Mr..
Mcmillan was not present and, at
the time he voiced his criticism, said
he had not read the speech.
Mr.. Mcmillan commented, how
ever, that Mr.. Young's speech was
mot what a man in his position
ought to say when he was supposed
to be welcoming new members at
q friendly gathering" In calling for
a new Commissioner, Mr.. Mcmillan
said Mr.. Young was friendly" inI
personal matters but failed to- CO.
operate with the House District
Committee ass he should.
Mr.. Stefan said he had talked over
with Commissioner Young the prob
lens of fire and police protection, of
schools and the traffic situation.
What is confusing to the lay
man. he declared, lis ABC toI
Young. He knew that there was not
going to be enough money for
schools. for snow removal, for get
ting out of this traffic snarl He
wanted to impress the new mem
bers with the fiscal condition of the
city"
Audience Not in Mood.
The audience, said MIR. Stefan,
was not in mood to listen to that
kind of speech.
They came for entertainment |
Several members told me 1t was a |
good speech, but too long. 1t was
a well-prepared speech and in my
judgment ne did not talk long
enough I've heard many favorable
comments" the legislator went on.
Continuing his statement in Mr..
Young's behalf he declared:
Washington has the best govern
ment and best policed city in the
United States, and yet We do it on
O relatively small amount of money. |
The City of Washington renders
more free service to the Federal
Government and to the people gen.
orally than any other city in the
United States and does it with less
confusion y %
Speech Extemporaneous.
I'm deeply sympathetic to the
service Russ Young has rendered to
the citizens of Washington and To
the Government generally.
It listened to every word he said.
1t was an extemporaneous speech,
and it's hard to make speech to an
audience that doesn't want to listen.
But he endeavored to tell the new
members of Congress as members
of the City Council of Washington,
just what the city is up against. He
did it extemporaneously and he did
1t in very splendid manner.
Il know his sincerity of purpose
to serve the city and the Govern
ment to the best of his ability, and
I personally feel he's done a good
job"