Evening star., 1923-06-12
MAI. BELL NAMED
AS COMMISSIONER,
SUCCEEDS KELLER
West Point Graduate Chosen
Engineer Member of D. C.
Governing Body.
RECOGNIZED FOR WORK
IN ARMY FOR Fl YEARS
Appointment Effective as Soon as
New Official Can Leave
Present Duties.

Maj. ]. Franklin Bell, Corps Of
Engineers, now in charge of river
and harbor improvements in the dis
trict of Pittsburgh, Pa, today was
appointed by the President as En-
gineer Commissioner OF the District
of Columbia to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation OF Col.
Charles Keller, Corps of Engineers.
He was born in Pennsylvania, No
vember 9. 1876. and is nephew Of the
late Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell.
former chief of staff of the Army,
after whom he was named. Ap-
pointed to the Military Academy in
1898, he was one of the star grad
yates of the class of June, 1902, and
was assigned to the Corps of En-.
gineers. He was graduated from
the Engineer School in 1910, and
afterward received degrees of 3. S.
and NJ S. from Washington and JEFF
ferSon College.
Served Here Before.
Following his graduation he served
at Washington barracks in this city
from September. 1902. to September.
1908, and then went to the Philip
pines. where he served for two years
as lighthouse engineer. On his return
to the United States he served as an
instructor in mathematics at the Mill
tary Academy from 1905 to 1909 and
again from 1912 10 1916, in the interim
having served with engineer troops at
Washington barracks He was in
charge of engineering works near Al
| bany. \. Y. from 1916 to 1917, and
near Jacksonville, Fla. for a short
period. When the United States en-
tered the world war in 1917 Mai. Bell
was made a lieutenant colonel Of en-
gineers. National Army. and a few
months later was promoted to a
colonelcy.
First with the sO3d Engineers at
Camp Dix, \. j. He later organized
the 1olst oe2d, 50Sd and 504th Engi-
neeFs at Camp Merritt. n. J.. and then
returned to the 303d Engineers at
camp DIX He commanded the oath
Engineers from December 1917, to
March 1918. and accompanied the
57th Engineers to Is-sur-Tille. France
He then successfully commanded the
district at Anglers. France, the enEi-
| neer depots at Greves and at Mon
tlerechaune; the cath Engineers, 1st
army at Toul. where he was In
enarse OF engineering operations, was
executive officer for chief of euei-
neers OF the I'd army and then com
| manded the provisional engineer
regiment with the army of occupation
| of the Rhine
Later he served as chairman of the
board of disposition of German war
| materials and then as assistant engi-
| neer purchasing officer at Paris.
Since his return TO the United States
! IN the spring of 1920. he has been en-
gagged in engineering duty first at
New Orleans and then at Pittsburgh.
! Where he IS at present.
| Approved by Weeks.
! The appointment of Mai. Bell was
recommended by Maj Gen. l.. II,
! Beach. chief of engineers. and was
/ approved by Secretary Weeks of the
! War Department. Mr. Weeks sub
| mltted the recommendations to
| President Harding today and the ap-
| pointment was authorized 1t will
become effective as soon as Mai. Bell
+, can arrange his official affairs at
! Pittsburgh for transfer to his sue
cessor.
| Col. Keller. who has accepted en-
! ployment with a private corporation
engaged in extensive water-power
| projects in California and other
! states. will be transferred to the re-
/ tired list of the Army on his own
| application. under the thirty-year
service retirement clause,