Evening star., 1944-01-10
Dr.. George Otis Smith
Dies al II; Figured in
enate-Hoover Fiqht
BY the Associated Press.

AUGUSTA, Me, Jan. 10.-Dr.
George Otis Smith, 72, chairman of
the Federal Power Commission in
President Hoover's administration,
died here today shortly after being
stricken with heart disease.
A resident of Skowhegan, DR..
Smith also served as chairman Of
the Federal Coal Commission in 1922
%. He became i'll while attending a
Central Maine Power Co. directors
meeting.
A noted geologist, DR.. Smith was
interested in the development of
oil, power and water resources and
was instrumental in the enactment
of Federal oil, land and mineral
leasing laws. He was appointed di-
rector of the Federal Geological
Survey in 1907.
Left Three Children.
Dr. Smith leaves three children
Joseph Smith, publicity director for
Colby College; Mrs. John H. Fawcett
of Berkley, Calf, and Mrs. Robert
Velten of New York City.
After almost quarter of a cen
tury in comparative peace as direc-
tor of the Geological Survey, DR.
Smith late in his public career was
plunged into political hotbed that
ended only at the bar of the
Supreme Court.
About him revolved a quarrel OF
the Senate in 1880, 1881 and 1885,
that led to an open challenge OF
President Hoover's constitutional
authority in appointing public Off
clals. The Senate demanded DR.
Smiths recall as chairman of the
Power Commission, but the Presi-
dent stood firm.
Senate insurgents, led by George
w. Norris of Nebraska, battled
vainly to unseat DR.. Smith. Their
fight had for a spearhead In court
John w. Davis, former Democratic
presidential nominee.
Courts Sustained Hoover.
In substance, the Senate contend
ed 1t had the right to recall con-
f1rmation of the appointee and de-
manded that President Hoover re-
turn his commission. The Chief
Executive finally refused and into
the courts went the struggle.
All the way up the line, the courts
sustained Mr.. Hoover and the Su-
preme Court took the same view as
the President-that he was within
his legal rights in declining to accede
to the request of the Senate.
The first official action of the re-
constituted Power Commission in
December, 1880, when an independ-
ent group of five succeeded the for
mer commission of three cabinet
members. brought the storm upon
Mr.. Smiths head.
Three employees of the old COM
mission were dismissed by three
members of the new commission as
their initial step in reorganization.
The other two commissioners had
not been sworn at the time.
Employees Dismissed.
Two of the employees, Charles A..
Russell, solicitor, and William ".
King, chief accountant, were con-
sidered by Senator Norris and others
in the Senate as defenders Of the
public interest in power matters.
When they were removed, the
Senate withdrew its confirmation of
DR.. Smith. The senatorial demand
for a recall centered about its con-
tention that two legislative days had
not elapsed between confirmation
and the attempt to rescind it. The
confirmation was voted just before
the Senate recessed for the Christ
mas holidays and the other vote
came just after reconvening.
DR.. Smith was one of the oldest
bureau chiefs in the Federal service
when he left the Geological Sur
vey. He was fresh from Colby
College in 1893 when he joined the
survey as a field assistant. Three
years later he acquired doctor of
philosophy degree from the Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore
and was known through the Federal
service as DR.. Smith.
DR.. Smith was born in February
%, 1871, in Hodgdon, Me-, but Skow-
hogan was his legal residence. In
1896 he married Grace M. Coburn.
= H.