Evening star., 1961-08-03
IS Disup.proved
By Police Got
Permits Anyway
BY CHARLES d. PIERCE
Star staff Writer

Gen. Clarke said yesterday
be would take this action when
told that at least IS licenses
have been issued to car dealers
and statesmen in the last two
years although police had rec
commended that they not be
granted.
Thomas A. Helan, assistant
chief of the District licensing
and permits division, said that
he had granted licenses to the
Is men after a study of their
records and consultations with
probation officers and others.
Is Of 20 Approved
Mr.. Helan said that while his
office calls for police recon-
mendations it is not bound by
them.
District records show that of
h u n dreds of applications
screened by police in the last
two years, about 20 were recon-
for disapproval. How
ever, at least IS of these later
were approved for licenses.
One case involved a Wash
ington gambler freed from Jail
in 1859 after a conviction for
bribing a policeman. Mr.. Helan
said he had consulted with this
man, his lawyer and the parole
board before issuing him a Ii
cenSe as an auto salesman in
1860.
"He has no black marks
against him in the auto indus
try and he has paid his debt
to society,"" said Mr.. Helan.
Gen. Clarke, who supervises
the Department of Licenses and
Inspections, said that after
Deputy Chief Layton completes
his inspection I'VE will have to
take a look to see if we need
some additional policy guidance
for the department"
The issuance of licenses to
auto dealers has come under
scrutiny as a result of bribery
charges made by Ross Rosen-
berg, a former used car dealer,
who is seeking renewal of his
dealers license.
Mr.. Rosenberg declared at a
Board of Appeals and Review
Committee hearing last week
that he had paid Conrad N.
Cardano. District licensing Of
ficer, lover 500" and also paid
for two bicycles for Mr.. Car
dano's children in order to
avoid trouble with the District.
PaSSeS Lie Test
Mr.. Cardano denied the
charges and took a police lie
detector test which showed no
indication of guilt on his part.
Mr.. Rosenberg also has taken a
lie detector test given by a pri-
vate detective he hired, which
he said showed that his charges
were true.
Frederick Haller, chairman
of the Board of Appeals and
Review, had charged before the
hearing for Mr.. Rosenberg
started that Representative Nc
MILAN, Democrat of South
Carolina, had used pressure in
an attempt to help Mr.. RoSen-
berg get his license renewed.
This was denied by Mr.. Nc
MILAN.
Mr.. Mcmillan yesterday in
troduced a resolution in Con-
gress that would authorize him
to conduct an investigation of
District Government depart
mentS.
Needed Subpoena Power
A resolution was necessary
before the investigating COM
mittee appointed by Mr.. Nc
MILAN could subpoena wit
nesses and records in any hear
ingS.
Mr.. Mcmillan had announced
his intention to look into re-
ports of irregularities" in Dis
trict departments after he was
accused of interceding on be-
half of Mr.. Rosenberg. t-
In another development yes
terday, redevelopment officials
said that Mr.. Mcmillan had
supported the application of a
liquor dealer seeking the only
Iliquor-store lease in the new
Southwest Town Center.
However, John r. Searles, jr.,
Redevelopment Land Agency
executive director, said that Mr..
Mcmillan had not attempted to
use any pressure on behalf Of
Harry Slavitt, operator of
Harry's Liquor Store, who OBJ
tanned the lease.
Il really do not feel that Mr..
Mcmillan did anything improp-
er at ALL" said Mr.. Searles.
"Mr. Mcmillan did tell me on
several occasion that he hoped
Mr.. Slavitt was receiving every
consideration a man would be
entitled to receive" said Mr..
Searles. There is nothing un-
usual about a Congressman do
ing this"
Mr.. Searles said that Webb
& Knapp. developers of the
Town Center, had actually Sc
lected Mr.. Slavitt as the tenant.
None of the other appli-
cants could pay the $13,500Aa-
year rent at the Town Center, -
Mr.. Searles said.
Ray French, Webb g. Knapp
vice president, said in New
York that he had personally
selected Mr.. Slavitt as the best
qualified tenant after inter-
viewing II applicants.