The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
CONTROL OF WATER POWER.
Necessary that Rights of the People
should Be Guarded.

From the Outlook.
How shall we save the streams. rivers.
and waterfalls. which are to be so essen
tial 10 our welfare. from the inevitable
drought that follows the devastation Of
our forests? And when we have taken
steps for the preservation OF these water
powers from destruction. how shall we
assure ourselves that they shall be used
for the benefit OF the public as well as
for private profit? Shall We permit great
capitalists to acquire them. control them.
and use them, as we have in the past un-
wisely and improvidently permitted small
groups OF fnanclers 10 acquire. control.
and use our streets. our highways. our
coal mines, and our oil fields? Shall we
wait until we are absolutely dependent
upon few great corporations dlstrIbut-
ing water-generated electricity before at
tempting TO determine the terms upon
which they may use the great natural re-
sources of the country Or shall we now
endeavor 10 devise by conference and ad-
justment the conditions upon which the
great and powerful electrical companies
Of the not distant future are to be created
and operated? The latter course appears
{
sonable one 20 pursue
In pursuing this course Il is true that
We shall be involved in some perplexing
and entirely new problems OF law and
economies, but that is no reason for not
facing those problems frankly s-nd cour-
ageoasly. In discussing them. the first
thing Is to remember that two parties are
involved on the one hand there ara the
capitalists or investors: on the other. the
public or the consumers. The rights OF
each party deserve equal consideration.
Nothing should be done TO take from the
capitalist either the credit or the prof.
which he Justly deserves for the knoWi-
edge, energy, and skill which he is devot-
ing 10 the creation OF the new industry
and for the great risks which ne runs in
the development OF that industry: but az
the same time nothing should be done "a
deprive the public OF the common rights
which they have in the natural resources
Of the country. The right Of private
profit ought 70 be carefully guarded and
maintained. but It may be preserved. not
only by present negotiation as 20 the
terms OF franchise, but also by future ad-
justments OF these terms II. however.
franchises are given in perpetuity by
either State legislatures or by Congress.
/ the rights Of the public viii be lost for al
/ time. or can be regained only by a great
national controversy Ike that in which
the country has been involved for the
/ past three years over the relations OF the
great railway corporations 70 the public
and the government For this reason IS
/ II not clear that il is the duty Of every
citizen o. wisdom and foresight TO oppose
with vigor any attempt. whenever IL may
I be made. 10 obtain water-power fran
chiseS either in perPetuity- or without re-
eognition of the right OF the state or the
nation to exact a reasonable payment and
/ exert reasonable control2
/ These questions are now being present
ed both 10 Congress and to various STATE
! legislatures In the form Of bills askins
that special privileges be granted 10. OF
that particular regulations be imposed
7 upon. water-pOWer corporations The cor
porations ought 10 make and will make
every effort To see that their rights AT
observed by the public The voters and
I legislators OF the country ought 10 be
equally insistent that the rights or the
consumer and the government are prop
/ erly and definitely safeguarded