Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-25
QuinIan Is Endorsed
After 'Reprinnand'
CountyG. o. P.
Backs Appeals
Bourd Member

DOQIO MemDeI
A Montgomery County Board
Of Appeals member who was
"reprimanded' earlier this
week by the county council
today had the County Repub-
lican Committees unanimous
backing for reappointment He
also won support from a former
appeals board chairman.
The appeals board member
involved is Republican William
A. Quinlan, Whu. was repri-
manded by the council because
of his outspoken statements
about the actions of a county
official in a coming matter.
David Scull, county Republic
can chairman, said the G. o. P.
was submitting only Mr.. Quin-
ANS name to the council for
reappointment to the appeals
board. The council had re-
quested that three names be
offered,
Hayden Adds Support
The additional support for
Mr.. Quinlan came from James
J. Hayden, professor of law
at Georgetown University. a
former appeals board chair
man who criticized the coun-
ellis handling of the whole
matter as shocking"
1.-THE really shocking aspect
of this matter is that the coun-
Gil can be so calloused in dis
posing of the matter by decid-
ing that no improper motive
was involved and that needless
embarrassment may have been
caused to the government of
Montgomery County," Mr.. Hay
den said in a letter to Council
Stella B. Warner.
The council reprimanded
Mr.. Quinlan last Tuesday for
introducing in the boards hear
ing records a statement noting
that thigh official" had ap-
peared riyately before the board
to urge that a case involving the
Potomac Electric Power Co. be
heard ahead of the regular
hearing schedule.
Mr.. Quinlan said yesterday
the council appeared to be try
ing Ito divert attention from
the true issue of the indepen-
dence and integrity of the board
by putting on the defensive a
member who dared to call at
tention to a private approach
to the board"
He also said he intended, if
permitted, to continue his fight
to stop private approaches to
the board.
Mr.. Hayden said the appeals
board-Which chiefly handles
coming eXceptiOnS-iS a quasi
judicial body.
Regardless of motive, it
ought to be obvious that no
county official and no other
person should undertake to
make any private suggestions to
the board of appeals" Mr.. Hay
den said.
Was Never Approached
He said that during his term
on the board, no one ever ap-
preached him in regard to a
case, except through regular
channels.
If they had done otherwise,
he said, Il should have felt
completely justified in accel-
Grating his progress to Subur-
ban Hospital with a broken
jaw"
Mr.. Quinlan has asked for
study by the county bar asso-
citation, the county attorneys
Office and civic groups of pos
sible legislation which would
prohibit private approaches by
county officials or others to
members of the board in regard
to pending cases.
Mr. Scull said he felt the
councils request for more than
one name was unusual and ap-
peared to indicate that the
Democrats controlled council
might be trying to dictate Sc
lection of the G. o. P. nominees.
Three Names Asked
In censuring Mr.. Quinlan.
the Democratic council said it
was asking the Republican
committee to submit at least
three names of candidates for
the Republican vacancy which
will come up August Is. Gen
orally the council has left it up
to the committee to decide how
many names to submit.
Mr.. Scull said that recent
press stories suggested the
council would prefer not to re-
appoint Mr.. Quinlan because
of needless embarrassment
resulting from Mr.. Quinlan's
efforts to insure that the
boards business is conducted
in public"
He said the committee well
coined his willingness to con-
tinue on the board and felt his
integrity and conscientious
service on the board over a
period of years have earned for
him widespread support &.
and the county would benefit
from Mr.. Quinlan's reappoint-
ment."