Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-25
RUSSELL ANSWERS
BONNER'S CHARGES
AT POWER HEARING
Commission Secretary AC-
cuses Counsel of Making
False Affidavits."
SOLICITOR DESCRIBES
FINANCIAL CRASH"
Declares That if Attacker Were
Fair He Would Show That At
fairs Are Being Settled.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Dramatically springing to his feet
after F. E. Bonner, Power Commission
secretary, had accused him of having
dishonest debts" and of making a
false AFFIDAVIT" Charles A. Russell,
commission counsel, today asked and
was given permission by the Senate
Interstate Commerce committee to
reply to the charges.
IF Mr.. Bonner we're fair" Russell
cried, she would bring here letters
showing that my affairs are being set
tied as quickly as possible"
The commission solicitor, who pre-
Viously had charged Bonner with IA
voring the power interests" then re-
lated events leading to his financial
crash" in Montana before he entered
Government service.
He said that after an extended pc
Rod of illness he lost everything-"my
house, my automobile and had to walk
out" Russell added that was in 1925.
Tells of $4,000 in Debts.
Continuing his rapid testimony, he
said that since then his wife had gone
without necessities and that he had
made every effort to pay back his debts.
He added that they amounted to $4,000
when he left the Western State, and
that since he had paid back $4,000 of
this amount
He said he had no trouble in the
power commission until after the Mon
tana hearing" Russell referred to the
hearing on the Flathead, Mon, power
xrrkaS Nt, H.
commission.
With regard to the $500 or $3.50"
said Russell, going back to Bonner's
charge of a false affidavit," Russell
said he hadn't heard a word of it
from the day l received 1t to this" and
commended that it was entirely "legiti-
mate and proper"
Bonner on the stand said that Russell
was under investigation by the Govern
ment.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Montana,
interrupted, saying, IF you discharged
every one in Government service who
doesn't pay his debts you wouldn't have
many working"
Asks Citation of Act.
He added that he "of course" believed
man should pay his "just debts" but
he did not believe that debts should be
a cause for the Government to discharge
any one.
Senator Dill, Democrat, of Washing
ton asked Bonner If he could give any
official act" in which Russell failed to
serve the public. The witness presented
several letters which condemned Rus
sell personally
The false AFFIDAVIT Bonner referred
to was one made by Russell when he left
lnfnPCfofn nv 80
where he was an attorney.
The affidavit said that Russell was
Separating himself from the civil serv-
ice" Bonner testified, adding that he
did this in order to receive the $7OC
from the Governments retirement fund
AT the beginning of the hearing to-
day memorandum was introduced
which showed that more than $27 ,000,-
600 in valuation accounts of companies
seeking power permits had been ques-
TONED by commission accountants.
Bonner's testimony with regard to
Russell caused protest from Senator
Dill.
1T is matter of opinion" Dill said
whether the incident involved a false
affidavit since Russell is not under civil
service, with the Power Commission. .
Russell was present as Bonner testi-
fled, as was also William v. King, COM
mission accountant, who has sided with
Russell on internal discussions in the
commission over policies.
Worried About Smith.
The witness also testified that after
the conventions Worthington had out
lined program to Huston for Hoover
to carry Tennessee.
Gray added that he was worried
about what the two candidates might
say about Muscle Shoals in their CAM
paign speeches, but was particularly
worried about the Democratic candi-
date, Alfred E. Smith.