Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-14

WAohlN1lONS Apflt Is - ~
special message vetoIng dam bill
President Roosevelt warned congress
that there are pending this session
bills which propose to give away
without price stream rights capable
OF developing 100000 horsepower.
whose production. under average con-
ditiona, would cost annually 25,00O,-
900 tons OF coal; urging in vigorous
terms the establishment OF a policy
such as the hlibustering minority in
the house demands, which would
safeguard the granting of bridge and
dam privileges and require the
grantees to pay for them. and def
nitely announcing future policy on
his part by refusing his signature to
a bill that gives an additional three
years to the Rainy River Improve
ment company within which to build
q dam In the Rainy river.
II do not believe" says the presi-
dent, that natural resources should
be granted and held In an undeyel-
oped condition either for speculative
or other reasons. SO far as | am
aware there are no assurances that
the grantees lin this easel are In any
better condition promptly and prop
erly to utilize this opportunity than
they were at the time of the original
act granting the privilege 10 years
ago"
Discussed Federal Policy.
Discussing broadly the federal pol
ley, the president says:
Every permit TO construct dam
on a navigable stream should be spe-
officially recognize the right OF the
government 70 AK term for It's dura-
ton and 10 Impose such charge or
charges as may be deemed necessary
70 protect the present and future In
terests OF the United States IN ac-
cordanee with the act OF June 80.
1905.
''The provision for charge Is Of
vital importance. The navigability OF
every inland waterway and Of all con-
nectable inland waterways as whole
should DO improved for the purpose
Of Interstate commerce and irrigation
upon consistent and uniform plan,
OF which each part should be made to
help every other part.
The income deFIyable from this
source would materially aid in the
complete improvement OF our nayi-
gable waterways. for which there Is
now such a crying need. The chief
OF engineers OF the army reports that
the bills now pending at this session
OF congress permit the construction
of dams In navlEable rivers capable
OF developing over 100000 horse
power These rivers run every hour
In the day and every day In the year.
To develop this amount OF power
would. under average conditions. re-
quire about 10000. O0O tons of me-
dunn quality coal every year. This
natural wealth Is the heritage of the
people. see no reason for giving II
away, though there IL every reason
for not imposing conditions 80 bur
densome as to prevent tho utilization
Of the power.
I'VE are now at the beginning of
great development In water power,
Its use, through electrical transmits
sion, IL entering more and more
largely into every element Of daily
life OF the people; already the evils
OF monopoly are becoming manifest;
already the experience OF the past
shows the necessity OF caution In
making unrestricted grants of this
great power.
''The present policy pursued In
making these grants Is unwise in
givlng away the property OF the peo-
pie In the Rowing waters TO indlYid-
uals or organizations practically uNs
known and granting In perpetuity
these valuable privileges In advance
OF the formation OF definite plans as
to their use. In some eases the
grantees apparently have little or no
financial or other ability to utilize
the slit and have sought II merely
because A could be had for the ask
Ing.
Tho Safe Public Policy.
in place OF the present haphaz-
ard policy OF permanently alternating
valuable public property we should
substitute a definite policy along the
following lines:
"First-There should be a limited
or carefully guarded grant in the
nature Of an option or opportunity af-
forded within reasonable time for de-