Evening star., 1952-04-22
Mahoney Hammers
Al Housing Charge
Against Sasscer
By Alex R. Preston

BY Alex r. Preston
In the final two weeks of his
campaign for the Democratic SEN
atorial nomination, George P.
Mahoney is playing heavily on a
theme that connects the name
of his opponent with an alleged
housing shortage for servicemen
in Southern Maryland.
He demonstrated this when he
repeated charges at three separate
meetings in Montgomery County
yesterday that friends and for
mer associates of Representative
SaSscer brought political pressure
and influence" to bear to stymie
a loW-cost housing project at the
Patuxent Naval Air Station.
Mr.. Sasscer, a member of the
House Armed Services Committee,
said last Friday in Bethesda that
"his insinuation is a down.
right lie" He repeated the state
ment in, Baltimore yesterday.
Sees Big Scandal.
II predict" Mr.. Mahoney told
the Democratic Club of Potomac,
Md, last night, "that Mr.. Sasscer
will bring to Maryland one of the
greatest scandals in the history
of our State. It's going to be one
of the most embarrassing situa-
tionS ever to confront the Demo-
cratic Party.
MY opponent has brought it
on himself. The Democratic
Party cannot stand any more en-
barrasSment."
The candidate has charged that
the four friends and former asso-
ciates are "a little group of men
eager for big profits who con-
trolled the only available water
supply" for a housing project for
Navy personnel and their families.
He said the water company want
ed to charge $3.50 per month for
each proposed housing unit and
"the Navy would not allow their
people to be gouged."
Stock in Family.
Speaking at the Hiser Theater'
in Bethesda earlier in the day, Mr..
Mahoney said:
"Mr. SaSScer confessed here
Friday night that his wife owned
rs shares of this water company.
I have no patience for that type
of dodging and ducking. I'd
rather say I owned the stock my
self. When I get through with
Mr. Sasscer I'm going to tell every
one in Maryland about his rela-
tions with the water works"
Mr.. Sasscer told the Western
Suburban Democratic Club in
Bethesda last Friday that his wife
had never received a dividend
from the rs shares; that she is
not on the board, nor is she an
officer of the corporation. He said
the water rates are fixed by the
Maryland Public Service Commits
sion.
There were only II persons, not
counting the press, in the Ma
honey audience in Bethesda. Later
he spoke to about IS persons at a
rally in the Takoma Park fire
house before going on to Potomac
to speak before . gathering Of
about 100.
Billed as County Tour.
His appearance had advance
billing as a tour" of Montgomery
County, which was to be conducted
by Thomas H. Carolan of Chevy
Chase, chairman Of the Mahoney-
for-Senate Club in Montgomery
County.
The Potomac meeting was open
to all candidates but Mr.. Sasscer.
who had previous commitments.
was not present. That gathering
broke up in a verbal free-for-all,
however, when a spokesman for
Mr.. Sasscer, former Delegate
Ralph w. Powers Of Prince Georges
County. contradicted statements
made at that meeting.
Mr.. Powers referred to Mr.. Ma
honey's speech as "a number
of irresponsible remarks" Mr..
Sasscer, the speaker declared,
didn't have anything to do with
the water company matter. He
also pointed out that the PSC
sets rates and said the company
has never paid dividends.
Last week Mr.. Sasscer had
posed the question of whether
Mr.. Mahoney had consulted Jon
Jonkel in his campaign. Mr..
Jonkel was fined for violating the
Maryland election laws in the
campaign of Senator Butler, Re-
publican. Of Maryland two years
ago.
At a press conference yester-
day Mr.. Mahoney answered that
he has not consulted Mr.. Jonkel.
He said he had met the Chicago
public relations man casually be-
fore the present Senate race.
Electrical Contractors Meet