Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-23
TWO POWER GROUP
OFFICIALS DROPPED
Solicitor Russell and Chief
Accountant King Removed.
Bonner Resigns.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Solicitor Charles A. Russell and Chief
Accountant w. v. King of the Fed
eral Power Commission today were re-
moved from Office in the first executive
order of DR.. George Otis Smith, chair
man.
The action was taken under the terms
Of the water power act providing for
reorganization Of the commission,
which granted the incoming commits
sioners power to appoint or reappoint
officials of the commission.
The notification followed q recent
opinion Of the Attorney General that
the new commission could refuse to re-
appoint officials.
Shortly before the chairman acted,
Frank E. Bonner, executive secretary of
the commission and storm center for
some months, resigned.
Reconsideration of the nominations
of the new members of the Power Com
mission was proposed today by Senator
Brookhart, Republican, Iowa, when in
formed Of the Smith order.
Says Bonner Also Ousted.
Chairman Smith said his dismissal
order was effective as of yesterday and
applied to Bonner as well as Russell
and King.
Internal strife Of the past few
months" was given as the basis for 1t.
Senator Brookhart said reconsidera-
ton may be moved in the Senate on the
next legislative day. Three Of the five
members of the mission-Smith
Frank r. McNinch and Marcel Gar
saud-were confirmed on the last day
of the session before the recess.
i Brookhart voted against both Smith
and Garsaud and he Is not in a posi-
ton, therefore, to move reconsideration
McNinch was not present yesterday
when the new commission took the &C
ton to which Brookhart objects.
Senator Dill, Democrat, Washington,
also Endorsed the reconsideration move,
but he, likewise, cannot take the action
because he, too, opposed the nominees.
King Indicates Challenge.
King, who has civil service status, in
dicated he would challenge the removal,
but declined to amplify his statement.
Russell made no comment.
In announcing the general policy of
the incoming commission, DR.. Smith
said 1t would maintain an open door
and follow a policy of obtaining a. full
accounting under the law of claimed
investments of power companies for
purposes of ultimate recapture by the
Government.
This policy, he added, would include
as its general theme the honest waltz
alton Of all utility properties involved
In cases before the commission.
Five Take Oaths Of once.
Oaths of Office were administered
yesterday to three of five members Of
the reorganized commission.
They Immediately assumed theil
duties as a quorum Of the new COM
| mission, which replaces the one com.
posed Of the Secretaries Of war, in.
| terror and Agriculture.
Claude L. Draper of Cheyenne, wyo.
and Marcel Garsaud of New orleans
were sworn in with DR.. George Oti.
! Smith, the chairman, last night. The
three members were guests at a dinner
! here and Draper and Garsaud were tx
start home today, laying aside their Of.
| fetal roles until after Christmas.
Frank r. McNinch, Charlotte, N. G.
and Ralph B. Williamson Of Yakima
Wash, were absent.
Harmony within It's own ranks and II
| dealing with all State utility commits.
sionS will be one of the primary aims o.
the commission in its future policy, DR.
Smith said.
AS for the controversial question O
State or Federal waterpower control
he repeated his statement before tht
Senate Interstate Commerce Commit.
tee that he favored Federal regulation
Of interstate traffic in power.
The States should rule within wher'
there are effective State regulator!
commissions, he said.