Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-20

Continued From First Page.)
the President desired early legislation
to, remedy situation which In his
opinion should receive prompt atten-
ton.
The dissension in the commission was
brought to light earlier in the week when
Russell and King testified the public
utilities included illegitimate items In
valuation lists submitted to the COM
mission. They also criticized Bonner
and accused him Of favoring the power
interests"
Couzens, after asserting that affairs
In the commission seemed lone of the
rotteneSt exhibitions of government
that have ever heard Of" called
Bonner to testify before his committee
today.
The Power Commission is composed
OF the Secretaries of the Interior, War
and Agriculture, but King and Rus
sell testified that Bonner did most of
the administrative work.
For Full Time Commission.
Secretary Wilbur, in a statement yes
terday, said there was dissension In
the commission personnel, and indi-
Gated that he favored full-time COM
mission. Proponents of such a COM
mission have asserted that the three
cabinet Secretaries did not have time
to administer the water power act.
Bonner, a slender. gray-haired man,
spoke calmly as he took the stand to-
day, but hardly had he begun to read q
statement before Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, interrupted to ask If it had
been prepared in advance. Bonner
answered that it had been because he
had no assurance that he would be per-
mitted IN testify
Bonner said it had developed that a
large part of the commission cost de-
termination work could be absorbed by
the STATS of the War, Agriculture and
Interior Departments, asserting the re-
suits were more trustworthy than If
an accountant were sent out from
Washington
Naturally" he added, ''this disturbs
some personal ambitions and the plan
encounters opposition in the accounting
division"
Pick Isolated Instances.
Bonner said there had been an in
clination to pick out for publication
isolated instances of fancied padding
of accounts" He continued that there
had also been tendency to try the
cases in the newspapers before the
licenses had been given hearing.
Both King and Russell testified that
power concerns added illegitimRte items
to their valuations and that these in
cluded lobbying expenses"
The secretary said some criticism
directed at the commission had implied
that it should be more active in rate
regulation. He asserted that the COM
missions authority in this matter was
strictly limited and added there had
been no occasion ito invade this field"
Much of the criticism directed at him,
he testified had been because he broke
up the "stagnation of the accounting
division" and began to get a little
action"
Witness Questioned.
Bonner completed his prepared state
ment and committee members began
questioning him about accounts of
power companies accepted by the COM
mission.
Not less than 80 per cent of con-
struction cost estimates" Bonner said,
represent clear-cut items Of construc-
ton costs"
About the remaining 20 per cent,
Bonner added, there might be different
interpretations"
Bonner said he became executive sec
rotary for the commission seven years
ago and that previously he had done
field work for them. Inquiries as to
who recommended him caused q sharp
exchange. The witness finally testified
that he had been recommended for his
present post by o. G. Merrill, his pre-
decessor, and Assistant Secretary Dixon
Of the Interior Department.
Sometimes I'm Conferences.
Asked about a conference in which
Charles A. Russell, solicitor, maintained
he was told to tell William v. King
to LAY on" the power companies, Bon
ner said Russell was sometimes called
into conference"
Norway shipped, last year, nearly