Evening star., 1961-11-05
Cardano tOGet
Backing From
District Chiefs
BY SAM EASTMAN
Star Staff Writer

BY SAM EASTMAN
Star Staff Writer
The Commissioners have de-
cided that the Districts chief
licensing enforcement official,
accused by a former uSed-car
dealer of using shakedown
methods, is clear of any wrong
doing.
The Commissioners, in an
unusual move. plan to an
nounce this finding within a
few days.
The licensing official, Con-
rad N. Cardano, has been under
an intense police investigation
since the shakedown charges
were leveled last summer by
Ross Rosenberg.
The Commissioners state
ment repeatedly will say, in
effect, that the investigation
turned up nothing to substan-
tiate accusations Of wrong
doing.
Inconsistencies Seen
1t was understood that the
Commissioners felt it was only
fair for Mr.. Cardano, who had
been publicly accused, to re-
ceive their public statement of
support.
Mr.. Rosenberg made his &C
cusation at hearings on his ap-
plication for both a used-car
dealer and a used-car salesman
permit. The statement, which
Mr.. Cardano repeatedly denied,
was that the licensing official
had accepted lover $100" and
payment for two bicycles for
his children.
Last August, Deputy Police
Chief John B. Layton reported
to the Commissioners that his
investigation had failed to back
up the shakedown accusations.
Deputy Chief Layton said Gin
consiStencieS have developed"
during the inquiry and that
up to this time, there has been
a lack of corroboration on both
the specific and general ale
cations" made by Mr.. Rosen-
berg.
The investigation found doc
umentary evidence to support
Mr.. Cardano on his statement
as to the bicycle purchases for
his children. Deputy Chief Lay
ton added that the alleged
gift of money is not subject to
the same kind of proof"
Pressure Charged
The Commissioners author
lied Deputy Chief Layton to
continue the investigation, with
this phase centering on Mr.
Cardano's finances.
After studying a report on
this investigation of the licens-
ing officials finances, Engineer
Commissioner Frederick j.
Clarke repeatedly decided there
would be no point in continu-
ing the case. Gen. Clarke and
Comm issioner Walter N.
Tobriner then agreed that the
public statement would be
issued.
Mr.. Rosenberg had lost his
dealers permit during a crack
down on used-car abuses here.
His bid for a new license first
was spotlighted by Frederick
j. Haller, chairman of the Dis
trict Board of Appeals and Re-
view.
Mr.. Haller accused Chair
man Mcmillan of the House
District Committee Of using
pressure in an attempt to get
the District to issue a new
license to Mr.. Rosenberg.
Mr.. Mcmillan said the re-
ports of pressure were distorted.
He then ordered a subcom-
mittee investigation of the city
government. Committee in
vestigators now are gathering
data.
Decision Seen This Week
The Board OF Appeals and
Review voted to issue Mr..
Rosenberg a used-car sales
mans license, but to deny him
q dealers permit for the Ii
cense year which ended last
Tuesday.
Both Mr.. Rosenberg and the
corporation counsels office
asked for reconsideration of
the boards decisions.
But Mr.. Rosenberg's attor-
rey, Bernard T. Levin, filed
motion late last week asking
the board to drop Mr.. Rosen-
berg's appeal for a dealers
license.
Mr.. Levin said the dealers
license year expired November
/ and that the question is now
moot. He did not, however, rule
out the possibility that he may
apply for a 1862 dealers license
at a later date.
"But at this moment" Mr..
Levin said, 'Mr. Rosenberg
seeks only a license to sell
cars"
Milton Norman, principal as
sistant corporation counsel
said his office expects to op-
pose the former car dealers
latest move.
"He cannot withdraw one IL
cense and leave the other hang
ing" Mr.. Norman said. They
should be decided together"
The board is expected to de-
eide this week. whether the