Show f I 1 Stripped r rr Him r of Power REA Chief Asserts WASHINGTON Feb 16 INS Harry Slattery chief of the rural electrification administration told congress V Wednesday that tha he is Jt a REA E A administrator in name only a and d has been stripped of ot his powers by Secretary of ot Agriculture Ch Claude ud f Testifying b bet before e f o 0 r rea e a a. senate committee investigating R REA E A Slattery said that appointment appointment ap ap- ap- ap of William J. J Neal former former former for for- mer president of the New dew Hampshire Hampshire Hamp Hamp- shire Grange as deputy deput R REA E A chief took away his power over personnel and budget matters I am not the real administrator according to the letter of ot the law Slattery testified It is a peculiar situation He charged that Neal Neat signs R REA E A allotments which I do not see sec except when the order goes out Slattery also declared that Wick Wick- ard requested his resignation last June Mr asked on June 17 11 1943 1913 for my resignation Slattery said I 1 told him I was a presidential presidential presidential appointee and would resign only at the presidents president's request Mr then told me some men in congress opposed me and that my resignation would save s ve the agriculture appropriations bill blU My answer was still No Slattery then conferred with former former former for for- mer Senator George Norris of ot Nebraska father of R REA E A. A He said Norris told him to stay by your guns Slattery said he telephoned tele tele- phoned the late Marvin McIntyre political secretary to President Roosevelt Informing him of ot the request Mr McIntyre said It was news to him Slattery commented ed The R REA E A formerly an independent Independent independent inde Inde- pendent agency was Wa placed under unde control of the agriculture department department depart depart- ment in 1939 |