Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21

Steps taken IN the controversy be-
tween the United States Senate and
President Hoover over the personnel OF
the new Federal Power Board have
tended to turn the discussion into various
channels, but final conclusions are favor
able to the Presidents stand. that as he
received the nominations without wait
ing for possible sideration, he Is
justified in denying the Senate right to
ask for their return. There Is wide
spread feeling, however. that discharge
Of employees Of the commission by the
new board has not been shown to be In
the public interest.
1.-THE embattled Senators rejoice In
having another quarrel with Mr.. Hoover,
whom they love to pillory as a tool OF
the sinister power trust" says the Chi
cago Daily News, with the feeling that
sit Is o pity that the new Power Com
mission has made 80 sorry beginning.
The Harrisburg Telegraph suggests that
doubtless the President would like to
take members Of the Power Board out
into the White House woodshed and
give them the sound presidential spank
ing they richly merit" and concludes:
There Is no questioning his high
minded devotion to public interests. He
needs no defenders on that score, but
he is certainly in sore need of somebody
to save him from such wretched errors
Of political Judgment as those leading
up to the present regrettable incident.
1.-THE belief seems to obtain" accord
ing to the Roanoke World-NewS, that
the President was not unusually sue
cessful In securing outstanding men Of
the first rank for the Power Commits
sion, and that the Senate, in its haste
to bring about the Christmas recess,
hurried their confirmation. But, now
that they have entered upon their du-
ties, the right Of the Senate to recall
such q confirmation may well be ques-
toned. The confusion that would re-
suit in government If such practice
should obtain Is obvious"
I'VE may differ with the President
materially in matters Of public policy,
states the Rock Island Argus, hut he
Is our President, nevertheless. and the
attacks upon him are 90 evidently in
Spired by desire to annoy and harass
him more than to establish any real
charges against his public actions and
policies that Il would seem the time has
come for the average citizen to stand
by the President" The Topeka Daily
Capital, looking upon the matter as a
phase in the fight over public against
private control Of power resources, Of
fers the Judgment that lit Is as much a
dividing wedge within parties as the
eighteenth amendment" and that cit
may become as important factor in
the presidential election of 1884,"
"The quorum Of the Power Commits
sion" declares the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin, invited criticism by the sum
mary dismissal Of the solicitor, account
ant and secretary Of the old commits
sion, and the attack that was provoked
was In a measure justified. But the
Senate cannot escape the record Of
TO the rule Of the Senate providing that
nominations shall not be returned to
the President until the expiration Of
the time limited for making q motion to
reconsider or while a motion to recon-
slider Is pending, unless otherwise Or
dered by the Senate" The Bulletin
takes note Of the fact that without ex-
press authorization of the Senate as
provided, but acting upon the state
ment of the presiding offlcer, the secre-
tary Of the Senate notified the Presi-
dent Of the confirmation Of DR.. Smith"
In view Of the facts, the Bulletin ar
CUES: ~The Federal Power Commission
viii not be judged finally by its selec-
ton of subordinateS. Nor has the par
tiSan coalition of the Senate set up q
power issue with the President. In its
zeal it has overstepped the line, chal-
lenged Executive prerogative, and made
an offside play that has never yet won
and that has always incurred q pen
atty"
Declaration by the New Orleans
Morning Tribune that the board,
frightened by the commotion caused
by its hasty and ungracious dismissal
of two able and useful agents, Is now
In full retreat" is followed by the voic-
"they don't know much about this power
dispute, II anything at ~" and the
query, IF MeSSrS. Garsaud, Draper and
Smith did not know more about the
nicetias Of the complex power struggle
than the two experienced and ale vet