Evening star., 1933-10-08
Action Illegal, Says
G.. p. Member of
Trade Group.
DECLARES PRESIDENT
BADLY MISINFORMED
Lands, Harvard Profes.
sor, Is Chosen Success
sOr to Stevens.

(copyrght, 1888. by the Associated Presso
President Roosevelt yesterday
ordered William E. Humphrey, an
old line Republican, removed
from office as a member of the
Federal Trade Commission, and
Humphrey refused to recognize
the order, saying it was in direct
violation of the law"
After weeks of controversy, the
President dispatched this two
sentence letter by messenger to
the commissioners office:
Il am in receipt of your letter
of September 27. Effective as of
this date you are hereby removed
from the office of the commits
sioner of the Federal Trade Com
mission"
A brief announcement from the
White House late yesterday made the
statement that Humphrey had been re-
moved and that George c. Matthew's OF
Wisconsin had been appointed IN the
place. White House officials said Mat
thews was Republican and that ne
, had voted for President Hoover
Dispute Expected to Follow.
Mr.. Roosevelt previously had written
Humphrey that he felt their minds cid
not go along together and thought the
aims of the administration would be
better served by appointees OF his own
selection.
Pointing out last night that the place
he had held belonged by law to Re
publican, Humphrey said the new Sc
curities division of the commission
which administers the securities law
had been filed with Democrts, and that
the real reason for his own attempted
removal was fear that I would know
too much about what was being done,
and would tell it
Both legal and political dispute is eX-
pected to follow. While Humphrey
would not discuss his plans, his friends
expect him to take every legal re-
course without indulging in physical
contest over possession of his suite of
Offices in the Trade Commission Build
ing. Republican party leaders, aware
OF the developing dispute, have indi-
Gated they would make a direct issue
over presidential authority to remove
officials of the independent commits
sions
Humphrey is an old-timer in politics.
Years ago he was Republican power
in the House. He is a lawyer, whose
home is in Seattle, Wash. President
Coolidge appointed him to the ccmmis-
SION in 1925. and when President Hoover
reappointed him in 1882 he was con-
firmed by the Senate over the oprosi-
ton of Democrats and independent Re
publicans His term would expire on
September 26, 1898.
Lands to Succeed Stevens.
lTThe decision to remove the commits
sioner was a part of a plan for general
REORGANIZATION of the commission. AS
smother step the White House an
nounced during the day that James M.
Landis. a Harvard professor. had been
appointed to fill vacancy due to ex-
p1ration of the term Of Raymond
Sfevens.
THE President first asked for Hum
phreys resignation in July. In doing
So. he wrote that the action was with
ont any reflection at all upon you per-
sonally or upon the service you have
wandered" and added: Il congratulate
S0u upon your long and active service"
MHumphrey refused to resign, saying,
- charges had been made, and that
tie law said that any commissioner
may be removed by the President for
8eficiency. neglect Of duty, or NAL
1asance of Office"
HOn August 81, the President wrote:
You will, I know. realize that I do
not feel that your mind and my mind
10 along together on either the policies
Or the administering of the Federal
Trade Commission, and frankly, think
Mt is best for the people of this coun-
tyy that I should have full confidence"
Misinformatisn Claimed.
The commissioner replied that the
clear intent of the statute was that the
Trace Commission should be inde-
pendent of the will Of the Executive,
and that to that end it had been pro-
vided specifically that no more than
three of the five members should be
members of the same political party.
Humphrey also insisted that the
White House had been given misinfor-
nation He asked for a personal talk
with the President. and later he asked
for a hearing before some of the Presi-
dents political advisers. Finally. on
September 81, he wrote that if his re-
tirement were forced, 'at once the mat
ter will become a party issue
It was in reply to that letter that the
Dosesident dispatched his terse note OF
taterday Humphreys only immediate
dbinder was the following public state
mht which he made last night:
- have not heretofore said word
about this controversy for publication.
1.-THE President without hearing or
justification. and in direct violation OF
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