Evening star., 1954-08-08

Attorney Rejects
Offer Because Of
Civic Obligations
William E. Leahy, attorney
and leading citizen, has beer
offered a seat on the Capital
Transit Co. directors board and
has refused it, The Star learned
last night.
The offer was the first made by
the company in, line with its
agreement with the District Pub
lie Utilities Commission to re-
place three members of the
board with others who would
represent the community inter-
eStS.
Mr.. Leahy, 68. was approached
on the subject last week even
before the Friday conclusion OF
company Commission talks that
resulted in a 10-point memo
randum of understanding"
1t Is understood that the law
yer asked for a little time to
consider .the proposition, then
turned it down on grounds that
he has too many other commit
ments. it was learned.
The excuse seemed plausible
Aside from his thriving law prac-
tice-he has been an attorney
here for AZ years-Mr. Leahy is
chairman of the Citizens Ad-
visory Council and active in q
large number of other civic and
professional enterprises.
Mr.. Leahy, it was understood
Is the only person to date ap-
preached by the transit firm as
a replacement on the company
board of directors.
The agreement to provide
greater local representation or
the board was inspired at least
partly by criticism of the boards
present makeup.
The special subcommittee OF
the Senate District COMMITTEES
which investigated transit mat
ters here last May reported it,
misgivings over the Capita
Transit boards domination by
the Louis E. Wolfson interests
The subcommittee suggested ad.
visibility of greater local mem
bership.
Seven Of the members of the
present 15-member board are
either relatives or longtime bus
mess colleagues of Mr.. Wolfson
whose enterprises are many ano
personally lucrative. One is an
official of local real estate hold.
ing company. Another is a for.
mer chairman of the utilitie,
commission. Five others arr
holdovers from the pre- -Wolfsor
transit management. Loui.
Wolfson is board chairman, prin.
cipal stockholder and the man tc
whom all of the directors owe
their jobs.
Involves designations,
To get the three 'locals''-o,
any new henderson the boarc
involves asking three of the
present members to resign. BY
custom, either Board Chairman
Wolfson, or company president
j. A. B. Broadwater would do
this.
Should the approached party
gracefully accept the invitation
and quit, stockholders would
elect a replacement. Should the
incumbent like his job too well to
resign, Mr.. Wolfson would have
no alternative but to wait until
expiration of the members one
year term next April /. At that
time the stockholders could then
vote a new man onto the board
The latter eventuality ap-
peared unlikely, however. Mr..
Wolfson has testified in public
hearings that he makes it a point
to have directors board MEN,
bers who see eye-to-eye with
him. For a board member to
refuse Mr.. Wolfson's request for
resignation is almost incon-
ceivable.
WOlfson Has the SaysO.
And as far as stockholders
elections for new board members
are concerned, Mr.. Wolfson and
his group of majority stock
holders would have the out
come in hand from the word go
Thus, the elective memberships
to the Capital Transit board are,
practically speaking, appointive
and by Mr.. Wolfson.
No immediate clue could be
had as to where the company
will look for it's next board can
didate. now that Mr.. Leahy has
removed himself from the run
ming.
1t was understood, further,
that at no time during the re-
cent transit Commission confer
ences were suggestions made as
to who among the present board
membership may be asked to re-
sign to make way for the new
local look.
Vote on Districts
AIIev DWELLINGS