The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-12
The Issue

President Hooyer's denial that he is ecfenoer
Of the power interests could be accepted more reaoy
If it had not been made few minutes DeloIe iAS
secretary OF the interior restored Frank Z. Bonner
to the government pay roll.
This sounds like a minor item compared with inc
major conflict now under way between the senate
and the President over the three federal power COM
missioners. Hoover, doubt would like 1t TO be
ignored in the excitement of his wrathy attack upon
the senate. But it goes through all the smoke ana
thunder to the very heart Of the matter.
There never has been the slightest doubt about
Frank E. Bonner
Bonner whose appointment as executive secretary
of the outgoing power commission was made on
recommendation of power company official; Bonner,
who recommended that the commission drop reglla-
ton of power company securities; Bonner, who tried
to break up the commissions accounting work; Bon
ner who tried unsuccessfully to suppress opinions
OF Solicitor Russell squeezing the water out of power
company accounts, and then tried to have the posi-
ton of solicitor abolished; Bonner who, failing again
sent an investigator to Montana to try to smear So
lcitor Russell's reputation; Bonner, who told the
senate the power companies ARE being prosecuted;
Bonner, who as he saw his tenure of Office drawing
to an end, tried to get the commission to issue
minor part license" to the Appalachian Electric
Power Company. freeing that company and possibly
ton by the power commission
Bonner was dismissed by the power commits
sioners But 50 were King and Russell, the men
who had tried to enforce the federal water power act
over Bonner's opposition.
And now Bonner Is welcomed back with open arms
into the government service. King and Russell are
left to find jobs where they may
Hoover speaks the truth when he says the people
will pass upon all this with unerring Judgment His
phrases about the duty of the executive TO resist en-
croachments of the senate upon his prerogatives will
not blind an electorate which showed last November
its understanding Of the underlying conflict
From the beginning there never has been real
issue in this quarrel except enforcement Of the federal
water power act
That was the issue when King and Russell refused
to acquesce in Bonners attempts to nullify the act
It was the issue when the President picked for his
new federal power commission four men who knew
nothing whatever about the intricate power law or
the difficulties OF enforcing it, and-for chairman
a man who had shown himself thoroughly tractable
bureaucrat.
II was the issue when the senate reluctantly con-
nrmed these men, failing to find in their undis
tnguished pasts an affirmative for not doing
so.
1t was the issue when Smith, Garsaud, and Draper
rushed to take the oath of Office and to dismiss from
the commission King and Russell, who had resisted
the power companies
1t was the issue when the senate acting in the only
way honest legislative body could act reconsidered
its confirmation of these men.
1t was the issue when Hoover elected to defend
his three commissioners and defy the senate in its
right to refuse to approve them.
It the issue when these self-discredited new
commissioners secretly began consideration Of the
Ubiquitous minor part license" while the senate
was voting them not fit for Office.
It was the issue when Hoovers secretary, Wilbur,
found job for the repudiated Bonner.
And it will be the issue when the voters eventually
pass unerring judgment" on this power fight.