Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-12-31
Roberts Faces
Battle 10 STAY
AsHouse Clerk

House Clerk Ralph r. Rob-
ertS faces q contest for re-
nomination in the Democratic
membership caucus Monday
and probably sharp criticism by
a Virginia Democratic member
on the House floor when Con-
lgreSs convenes Tuesday.
He nevertheless is expected
to weather both storms because
he repeatedly has the support
of Speaker Rayburn and most
other prominent Democrats.
House members have received
two separate circulars concern
ing the ofiice of mouse clerk
which, along with other officers
from the Speaker down, have
to be elected at the start of
each new Congress.
Hardy Mails Letters
Representative Porter Hardy,
jr.. Democrat Of Virginia. con-
tending that Mr.. Roberts is
arrogant, Is campaigning to
GUST him. Mr.. Hardy mailed
letters to all 26l Democratic
House members urging that
Mr.. Roberts not be reelected
when his term expires January
8, and that "a more suitable
candidate" be named instead.
II have q firm conviction
that a change ought to be made
and that it should not be too
difiicult to find someone who
can do q better service for the
members Of the House
than Mr.. Roberts has done,' y
Mr.. Hardy wrote.
Mr.. Hardy told the Asso-
ciated Press he thinks his let
ter speaks for itself. II just
think his performance hasn't
been what 1t ought to be-" he
said.
Mr.. Roberts, an Indianan
elected House Clerk every two
years the Democrats have con-
trolled the House since 1851,
formerly was House Doorkeeper
and clerk for the Democratic
membership.
Pay Is $4,000
The House Clerk position
pays more than $4,000 a year.
and includes the use Of q
chauffeur-driven limousine.
In his letter. Mr.. Hardy COM
planned Of what he called a
seeming increasing air Of in
difference and sometimes even
arrogance on the part of Mr..
Roberts and most Of his sub
ordinates" IN recent years.
He said he had had trouble
with both Mr.. Roberts and his
subordinates over Capitol
housekeeping matters concern
ing furniture in my ofiice, con-
corning items needed from OF
purchased through the station
cry room and concerning cleo
trical equipment" He added:
"On one or two occasions
when I have gone to his Office
and sought to speak with him
personally. the barriers which
he has established through his
staff are most impregnable. :"
Council Is Candidate
Another circular announced
the candidacy Of Claude l.
Council, who has served on
House committee stats in past
years and owns printing and
lithographing shop here. He
lives at 1921 Ridge place Sc.
A native of North Carolina, he
has been a Washington resi-
dent more than 80 years.
I'm this life and its shortness
OF, time" Mr.. Council stated in
his request for Democratic as
well as Republican support, IF
you cannot be a lawmaker like
the more fortunate ones, you
can at least work in a capacity
Of serving the lawmaker."
In recent years, Mr.. Roberts
has come in for some criticism
relating to his previous policy
lof refusing to disclose House
membership expense accounts
and for having driven to Indi-
ana in an of1icial automobile.
Last month he accompanied
House Foreign Affairs subcom-
mittee to Europe. Because Of
illness, he was obliged to return
home. Subcommittee chairman
O'Hara, Democrat Of Illinois,
said he had invited Mr.. Roberts
as a consultant on parliament
tary procedures for newly in
dependent African nations.