Arizona republican., 1910-03-25
Chairman Sewers His Con-
 neCtion With Commission MORE IMPORTANT POSITION
As Chairman of Trans Con tinental Scrip Bureau
 With Headquarters at San Francisco. Specula-
 tion as to His Successor.

It became known yesterday that Chairman NJ O. Bcknell of the Arizona railway commission had rendered his resignation to Governor Sloan last Thursday and that it was accepted by the governor two days later
 The friends of MT BicknelI however. had known for d month that he would probably shortly sever his relations with the committee 10 accept the i'm Iortant position Of chairman of the transcontinental script bureau with headquarters at san Francisco.
 The following correspondence was yesterday may public:
 Phoenix. Ariz.. March r.. 1910. Hon. Richard F. Sloan, Governor of Arizona. Building:
 My Dear Governor-The committee. representing the several railroads in- tereSted. has offered me the chairman ship of the Trans-C Continental Script Bureau. with headquarters at San Francisco. and I have accepted.
 I beg therefore 10 tender my resig nation as member of the Arizona rail way commission. effective April l, or as soon thereafter as may suit your convenience.
 My association with yourself and members of your official family dur ing the past year has been SD harmoni- ous that shall always recall the period with much satisfaction and with grateful acknowledgement that the success of the commission. which. because of its restricted powers. I consider phenomenal has been due iB large measure to your wise counsel and personal attention.
 With an express of my high regard and with best wishes for your future. l beg to remain.
 Yours very truly.
 NJ O. BICKNELL.
 Chairman.
 Phoenix. Ariz.. March l9. 1910. Mir M. O. Bicknell Chairman. Arizona Railway Commission, Phoenix. Ariz. Mir Dear Mir. Bcknel-Your letter rendering your resignation as a mcm- bcr of the Arizona railway commission to take effect April l, has been re- Ccivcd.
 In accepting your resignation I wish to express my appreciation for the very faithful and efficient service you have rendered to the territory as member of the commission. and my regret that these services may not be continued during my administration. Trusting you may find the position with the Script Bureau a pleasant one, and wishing you the utmost success in your new field of activity. l remain,
 Sincerely yours.
 CSiGncd) RICHARD r.. SLOAN,
 Governor of Arizona.
 The news that Mir. Bicknell had ten dered his resignation developed curiosi tv as to who would be his successor Nothing was divulgcd at the capital as to the governors probable action or plans but it has been learned from confidential though unofficial sources that the name of E. :. DePass is un- der consideration as the probable sue cessor to MT. BickneH.
 If the tender should come to him it will be in the way Of a well merited promotion. NIT. DePass has served the commission in the capacity of rate clerk ever since fits organization. or ever since the office of rate clerk has been filled. IL will be recalled that for some time the commission was handicapped in securing clerk of the desired capabilities. for the salary available for the duties to be assigned to such a functionary in the organiza- ton work of the board were in some respects equally cXacting as those to- Ie performed by the commissioners. The work to he done properly required 2 technical man. experienced in rail road rate making. Mir. DePass was eventually secured and he has worked diligently in perfecting the office rec ords and formulating its routine. He 1 was an experienced rate man in the | beginning and he now has at his com l mand d perfect knowledge of the office ! minute Also he has been in constant 1 touch with the work of the preceding 1 commissioners.