Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-15
MuIter Scores
Group Head
On transcripts

HOUSE.
This time. Mr.. Patman. Demo-
crat Of Texas. was accused Of
Improperly ordering House re-
porters not TO transcribe rec
ords OF committee sessions yes
terday and today.
Last week. Mr.. Multer charged
that Chairman Patman had is
sued a sightseeing report con-
trary to the wishes Of the ma
iority Of the committee.
Committeemen-a majority Of
eight-are sitting at the request
Of Mr.. Multer and against the
wishes Of Chairman Patman.
Primary Issue
At issue primarily is a re-
port released by Mr.. Patman
charging d. c. Transit System
President o. Roy Chalk with
competing unfairly with other
sightseeing operators
Mr.. Multer has come up with
his own report. due for final
action by his splinter commit
tee Monday.
So far. official reporters have
taken down every word spoken
at the Multer-convened meet
tngs. But none of the proceed
ings has been transcribed and
printed for committee members.
After Chairman Patman or
dered reporters not to tram
scribe the meetings. Mr.. Multer
sent them a letter reminding
them they worked for the
House. not for his Democratic
colleague from Texas.
Reporters insist they'll not
bulge from their perch on the
fence between the two men
until Speaker Rayburn, an
other Texas Democrat, tells
them whose orders to follow.
Mr.. Rayburn names members
of the 13-man committee.
Although technically response
BILE for it separation. the Speak
er has told members he will not
ignore end-of-the-sesSion bust
ness to start running the Select
Small Business Committee.
THE Speaker is fully aware
that meetings are being held,
and Of the way in which they
were called" Mr.. Multer said
today.
He has kept the Speakers
ONCE briefed on his request.
backed by seven other commute
teemen, to convene. These ara
the first executive sessions of
the committee since May 10,
according to Mr.. Multer.
Maybe the chairman knows
that the majority disagree with
him" Mr.. Multer specialized.
IF the majority did agree with
him, you may be assured he
would have called a meeting
himself"
Asks d. C. Heads Inquiry
Mr.. Multer wants the ma.
jority to support his substitute
sightseeing report tossing the
whole investigation from Con.
gress to the District Commits
sioners. He asserted that
hearings conducted by Chair
man Patman had uncovered
insufficient evidence to Justify
changes that Mr.. Chalk was
driving other sightseeing oper-
ators out of business.
The eight committeeman are
considering all pending reports
OF subcommittee, as well as
the sightseeing matter, accord.
ing to Mr.. Multer. Subcom-
mittee reports should be fin.
ished, ready for acceptance or
rejection by the committee on
Monday.
Chairman Patman has con.
tinued to brand the get-to-
getherS as trump sessions"
They are not included on Of.
f1cial committee meeting lists
of the House.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Patman has
introduced a bill to ban the
use Of any d. C. Transit equip
ment or personnel for any serv-
ices such as sightseeing, char.
ter or helicopter operations. II
Mr.. Chalk wishes to engage in
these side-line businesses, he
can reincoporate. Mr.. Patman
maintains.
His proposal is aimed at pre-.
venting Mr.. Chalk from fun.
neling Transit profits into char.
ter operations.
The Gray Line. a sightseeing
operator, also was singled out
by Mr.. Multer as one that bears
investigation. as well as D. c.
Transit.
Mr.. Multer noted that GRAY
Lines had tiled up" most of the
sightseeing business in local
hotels.
Henry Burroughs, president
Of Gray Lines, when asked for
comment. said he had no more
a monopoly in local hotels on
sightseeing business than did
barber shops on haircuts Of
hotel patrons. He said he had
exclusive floor rights in only
one hotel and shared hotel So
letting rights with his compete
tors in other hotels.