New-York tribune., 1906-11-27
UPA0LDS ENGINEERS
oecretary Taft Interrupts an Argu-
ment at Niagara Falls Hearing.
rFrom The Tribune er-s.r

washington. Nov. 26-The secrsta-v or War IA
-. po'Ioais the entire day to listening to
- ..unehes ior and against the admission to the
oiHeeo states Of power generated in Canada from,
the water flowing over Niagara Esus 1ba ,,o-,,
4ns was given to the American Civic Association
He speaker was its president j. Horace Nc
g. - .Ae Urged that no power generated on
s canadian side should be admitted to this coun-
W t4io ground that water taken from the falls
on the Canadian side would as greatly impair their
river.
IN the course Of his remarks Mr. Mcfarland
eiLucised Captain Charles w Kutx the engineer
onlcer who has been investigating the conditions
o. 'hs ia4Is but Mr.. Taft promptly called him to
ueI, saying that Captain Kutz had merely fol-
Heu . Instructions in seeking information from in
sS-e>sed corporations. well as from others
When Mr.. Mcfarland referred 10 the nostal csrds
aHo other protests which are being forwarded to
t1.e war Department in great numbers as a result
Va me campaign Of the association Secretary Taft
sa!o lhat quantities Of this form of protest were
oehs received, and that he had even received such
caros from his own mother and aunt but thew did
NOT heIp him In determining his duty under the
law. ~ ~
II eooltlon to the officers Of the American Civic
association the following were present to protest
against the diversion of waters from the eans
W an amount that would interfere with their
grandeur: +. ". Stevens, representing snacial
~ Soii.t1t'ee OF the New York Chamber of Commerce.
% oe berarc. representing the New York Mer-
cnAnts Association; a. K. Potter member of the
-'iasaTa reservation Commission: H. E. Gregory
Iep'esentns the American Scenic and Historic
preservation Society and DR. John NJ Clarke State
Geo!ogist Of New York
In MS argument Mr. Mcfarland said he felt a
t'4e nervous, as an American citizen that Captain
Aulz should have gone far into the economics
" 'ne question and of the profits necessary to the
corporations having made investments
secretary Taft said that CAPTAIN Kutz had inves-
o ensTs a tho to instructions sr and that the corps
suspicion.
ne secretary defended the report. and Mr.. Nc
~ s9 but that it T Was sf besaGse sspGEs Of
had coe5,. tntefView win captain kutz that he
had, had not time to consider views of newspaper in
treated In an e '0s Of d26e n6 In h am
stmosphere Of hysteria atmosphere of cor
In defence of his gtatement Mr. Mcfarland as
serted that he had become enthusiastic or hysteri-
eal only when the Secretary had "teased it out
oh Il it vas only the result Of teasing then let
ing the Of Rs 6ref Rf Hr McFarand
was kept close TO an Interpretation ot the statute
Ct l0.s00 cubic feet Of water a second from the
flow over the falls. He had attempted make an
the duty Of the Secretary OF War under the law
Nssrp Fss but 8 eoesGy Se sGy raf taid
pointediy that he could not what popular
tinsnt had to DO with the construction OF statute
that had been passed, Continuing Mr.. Mcfarland
srgTed that the law Itself authorized the Secretary
Of war TO preserve the grandeur Of the falls, and
he was not compelled TO issue permits to the VOL
G-He u cISlon OF water permitted by the law.
he favored withholding tho permits aud the
passage OF an act appropriating money to REIN
burSe corporations for the outlay that had been
made by them IN anticipation Of the privilege OF
using power from the Niagara River either by
diversion FOR their personal transmission OF
power from Canada.
Clinton Rogers woodruff, acting secretary Of the
American Civic Association, reinforced the argu-
tnenta Of Mr.. Mcfarland Secretary Taft criticised
the circulars issued by the association particu-
larly statement contained therein that it was
proposed to divert from the Niagara River VOL
Crne OF water eQualling the flow Of the Potomac,
the Hudson and the Delaware at their mouths. He
showed that this statement true and that
the exact facts are that II is intended TO divert
only about s. Or 10 Per cent OF the volume OF the
Niagara Mr. Taft remarked: II do not think
public opinion solicited such argument amounts
Mr. Mcfarland. who defended It by saying that he
meant the fresh water outflow Of these rivers
The boards of trade Of Buffalo and other cities
near the Fails were represented to-day by w
Garyl Ely and Francis Lynde Stetson. and General
FRANCIS V. Greene represented the power com
son for prohibiting the granting OF permits in &C
cordance with the limitation established bv tho
act Of Congress passed last session. Mr. McFar-
land made the brief closing speech for the op-
ponents OF the granting Of permits.
The protestants practically closed their case to-
the afternoon Secretary Taft heard reports OF
commercial bodies and OF corporations which have
GeVeloped power from the water Of the Niagara
River, who insisted that the grandeur of the falls
volume OF water apprecably depleted. Secretary
Taft said that to-morrow applicants for permits
would be heard. assuming for purposes OF argu-
Inent that the permits VIII be granted. The discus
sion will be the subject Of the distribution Of
the privileges to the various applicants