Evening star., 1951-02-25
Large Turnout
Seen atDonohue
Hearing tuesday
Nominee Indorsed
By 10 Y. Morgan; DYs
Expected to Object
By Don S. Worren


By Don S. Worren
A big turnout is expected al
10 am. Tuesday when the Senate
District Committee opens hearings
on the nomination of F. Joseph
Donohue to the Board Of Com
missioners.
Both advocates and opponents
of his confirmation are expected
to take the stand.
Dry leaders have attacked the
nomination on the ground that
Mr.. Donohue's long service as an
attorney for liquor licensees dis
qualified him to be a commits
Sioner.
Many spokesmen for 9th ell
groups have praised his character,
ability and energy and some have
lauded him for his advocacy of
Washington home rule.
Morgan Adds Endorsement.
10 v. Morgan, president of the
District Bar Association, yesterday
added his personal Endorsement.
1t was indicated other Bar Associ-
alton leaders would express ap-
proval.
Spokesman for veterans groups
also have indorsed Mr.. Donohue,
veteran of both world wars.
Only six witnesses had been
listed yesterday, but numerous
additional names were expected to
be filed tomorrow. One of the
witnesses is to be the Rev. Clinton
N. Howard of the International
Reform Federation. Another is
the Rev. D. Frederick E. Reissig,
executive secretary of the Wash
ington Federation of Churches,
who recently voiced a personal OBJ
lection to Mr.. Donohue in a ses-
sion OF the District Legislative
clinics"
Manbeck to Testify.
Other witnesses lined up for
Tuesday include Jesse B. Manbeck,
executive secretary of the Central
Suffrage Association; Myron G.
Ehrlich, an attorney: Paul Brad
shaw, and Earl Otto, representing
the Chillum Heights Citizens
Association.
| Mr.. Donohue. who was given a
"preconfirmation" testimonial Fri
day by $50 spokesmen for veteran
and civic groups, yesterday threw
a challenge at dry force critics.
He told reporters:
1T is the right and RESPONSE
pility of a lawyer to represent his
clients. The liquor business is
legal and the sale of liquor is au-
thorized by Congress.
'I challenge any one to show
that at any time I gave advice to
q client that was contrary to the
public interest"
Senators to Discuss Home Rule.
The Washington home rule issue
also will be considered this week
by the Senate District Committee
Another hearing is scheduled fol-
10 am. Thursday, when the Board
of Trade will outline its opposition
to the Kefauver-Taft bill for an
elected and reorganized city gov
ernment.
Other witnesses will include
Kenneth P. Armstrong. a home
rule advocate: the Rev. Robert
Trenbath of the Trinity Episcopal
Church; and Mrs. B. G. McIlwee
Senator Case, Republican, OF
South Dakota, said yesterday he
thought it would be appropriate
for an elected group of citizens to
work out details of a home rule
plan. He is drafting a bill for ar
elected citizens advisory council
He already has sponsored a bill fol
an elected District delegate in the
House and to permit the District
to vote in presidential elections.
Optometry Bill Coming Up.
A bill to regulate optometry here
and to declare it to be "profes-
sion" will be considered at pub
lie hearing at 2 pm. Wednesday
before the Health and Welfare
subcommittee of the Senate Dis.
trict Committee, headed by Sena.
tor Pastore, Democrat. of Rhode
Island.
There have been hot disputes
over this measure several times ir
past years. Witnesses listed fol
the Wednesday hearing include
DR.. Rex B. Shelby of the Optome
try Board of Examiners; DR.. Evart
Warren, president of the Distric,
Optometric Association; DR.. Jos.
eph M. Babcock of the American
Optometric Association; Claude A
Woodward. director of the Better
Business Bureau; Peyton r. Evan.
of the Washington Publishers AS.
sociation: and Corporation Coun.
sci Vernon E. West.