Evening star., 1943-05-26
.Hankin Denies
Moving Against
Flanagan
PUG Member Asked
White House Order
For Cooperation
BY DON S. WARREN.

Gregory Hankin, minority member
of the Public Utilities Commission,
today disavowed any desire to pre-
vent reappointment of James H.
Flanagan to the PUG. in comment
ing on his request that Sterilization
Director Byrnes lay before President
Roosevelt issues between PUG men,
bers
Mr.. Hankin explained the issues
concerned the commission method
OF operation and that it was his idea
that the President might see fit to >
instruct the PUG to "act as COM
mission rather than as individuals"
He said it was not his purpose to
persuade Mr. Byrnes to advise the
President to rap Mr.. Flanagan on
the knuckles,' in answering re-
porters' questions
Mr.. Flanagan, who became COM
mission chairman last fall when he
and Engineer Commissioner Charles
w. Kutz voted Mr. Hankin out OF
the Craftsmanship, was appointed to
the commission in February, 1912. to
I'LL out the uneXpired term of the
late Riley E. Elgin, and his term will
end June 30.
Anti-Flanagan Movs Hinted.
Mr.. Hankin first was nominated
to the unexpired term of Richmond
b. Keech, but Senate confirma ton
was delayed and in the interim Mr..
keech's term expired and Mr.. Han
KIN was given A new appointment
for three-year term, which will
end November 8, 1914
One District official who did not
wish to be quoted lit was not Chair
man Flanagan, declared today his
belief it was the desire of Mr..
Hankln to have the President ap-
point some one other than Mr.,
Flanagan
When asked about this TODAY Mr.
Hankln sad that 1T happens to be
a chronological coincidence" that
MS request to Mr.. Byrnes to Law
this matter before the President
came shortly before the expiration
OF Mr.. Flanagans term.
Mr.. Hankln continued, Il have
nothlng to do with appointments to
thls commission. To this he added
his assurance that Il did not and
would not suggest such a STEP He
then explained that it was his idea
assuming the matter goes to the
Presldent, that the President might
see Mt to instruct the PUG to act az
commission
The story of the new difficulties
among PUG members came to light
after the PUG majority late vester-
oav denied petition by the OPA
and other Federal agencies for re-
consideration of the commissions
oroer Tor reduction of some s3l2-
ooo IN the rates of the Potomac Elec-
trlc Power Co. The Federal agencies
maintained the rate reduction should
be at least S2,00O,OO0.
Hankin Attacks Flanagan.
In dissenting from the ma ioritv'z
rejection of the reconsidera tion re-
tltlon, Mr.. Hankin attacked Chair
man Flanagan for having failed to
SHOW him letter Sterilization Di-
rector Byrnes had written to Chair
man Flanagan on April /, in which
Mr. Byrnes asked Mr. Flanagan for
suggestions as to how they might CO.
operate in preventing imitation.
lhls was form letter Mr.. Bvrnes
mad sent to all State and local recu-
latory commissions. Mr.. FLANAGAN
treated the letter as a personal one
10 himself and revealed neither il
NOT MS reply to the other COM
hhlSsloherS, 1t is understood.
Ihls led Mr.. Hankin to make an
other complaint that the PUG was
not acting "as commission" and tn
appeal to Mr.. Byrnes to Law the
question before the President.
Winding up letter he wrote In
Mr.. ByTnes May 3. in which he dis.
cussed the FEPCO rate case Mr.
Hankin said:
I fully realize that the President
Is SO tied up with international and
national problems of tremendous
Importance that everything possible
should be done to avoid botherinp
hlm with affairs of the District Of
| Columbia. In view of the above
however, and in the interest of co.
operation with the Presidents own
policies, l feel compelled to ask vou
10 bring this matter to his atten-
ton