Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-12
Solicitor Backs
|D'AIesandros
Firing Of Price
Acting Mayor Says
He Will 6 Continue
III Baltimore Post
y thA Asseeleled Pfs.s

I
BALTIMORE. July l2.--Ail-
ing Mayor Thomas D,Alesandro
had the legal opinion Of the city
solicitor today to back UP his
stripping Of Arthur b. Price Of
the title, acting mayor"
The mayor Is perfectly en-
titled to eliminate the title Of
acting mayor at any time" said
Thomas N. Biddison.
"A short while earlier, Mr..
Price the president of the city
Council said he would continue
to perform the mayors duties
until Mr.. DsAlesandro returned
to his desk at City Hall.
MY tenure" he said, sis not
based on the within Of Mr..
D'Alesandro's personality fiuctu-
ations.'
Held Post Z Months.
Mr.. Price moved into the act
ing mayors role about four
months ago when Mayor DALE
sandro, q former chairman Of
the House District Committee.
took to h. hospital bed for q
check-up and rest.
Relations between Mayor
D,Alesandro and Mr.. Price had
been strained since before the
mayor went to the hospital. An
exchange of letters referring to
three ordinances awaiting the
mayors signature lit the fuse
leading to the blowup Saturday
night.
Mayor D'Alesandro announced
from his bed, II am putting Mr..
Price on notice that, as Of this
moment, he may no longer pre-
tend to the authority of acting
mayor"
Though he didn't say so, Mr..
D'Alesandro apparently meant
he intended to resume the duties
Of mayor. An attempt to reach
his doctor for comment on
whether the mayor was ready
to leave the hospital was un-.
successful.
Precedents Cited.
However, administration
sources said there was precedent
for the mayor to conduct the
business of the city even though
incapacitated. They said Mayor
| D'Alesandro did so on one other
occasion and that former Mayor
Howard Jackson kept his hands
on the reins while i'll.
| Mr.. Biddison. who empha-
sized that he was not dealing
| in personalities but only legal
aspects OF the case, said he would
officially notify city department
/ heads and persons doing busi-
ness with the city in the near
future that Mr.. Price is no longer
acting mayor.
A letter from Mr.. Price" to
Mayor D'Alesandro last Tues
day asking the mayors opinion
on three pension measures. in
Guiding a controversial firemen's
pension bill, touched OF the
final disagreement.
The mayor replied that he
would take full responsibility for
signing or vetoing the bills and
asked Mr.. Price to send them to
him at the hospital.
Prices Stand.
/ BY return mail. Mr.. Price exc
pressed grave doubt that the
city's business can legally be
conducted from hospital room. rs
He refused to send the docu-
ments.
4 On this point, Mr.. Biddison
said last night the council presi-
dent Is obliged to turn over any
city document requested by the
mayor.
i Mr.. Price said the city charter
states that the council presi-
dent shall serve as acting mayor
in the event Of the mayors
! illness.
1T appears that Mayor DALE
sandro has forgotten that I was
elected to my position by a
majority vote Of the people and
my authority Of Office comes to
me by virtue Of the city charter
as the direct result of such cleo
tion," said Mr.. Price.