The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-14
VET0Et
DAM BILL IN
MESSAGE
WARNS CONGRESS THAT NATURE
UTILITIES SHOULD NOT BE
GIVEN AWAY REckLEssLN-
WANTS POWER cos. CHARGED.

WASHINGTON, April '14.-Prest
dent Roosevelt In a special message
wherein he vetoed dam bill. warn
ing congress against pending bills III
this session which propose TO give
away without price mammoth stream
rights. He urged in vigorous terms
as the fiibustertng minority H-ehs
house demands, which would SAFE
guard the granting OF bridge and dam
privileges and require the grantees 70
pay for them.
The president definitely announced
future policy on his part with regard
to prompt utilization OF construction
privileges by refusing his signature
to a bill giving an additional three
years TO the Rainey River Improve
ment Co. within which TO build a dam
in the Rainey river.
Il do not believe" says the pres'-
dent, that natural resources should
BE- granted and held in an undeveloped
condition either for speculative or 9th
err reasons. So far as ! am aware
there are no assurances that the gran
tees Tin this easel are in any better
condition promptly and properly to
utilize this opportunity than they were
at the time of the original act tgFaRs-
ing the privllegel 10 years ago.
Every permit TO construct dam
on a nayigable stream should specie
cally recognize the right OF the gov
eminent 10 fix a term for its duration
and TO impose such charge or charge
as may DE deemed necessary 10 pro-
ect the present and future interests
OF the United states in accordanC :
with the act OF June 21 1906.
The provision for a charge is OF
vital importance. The navigability OF
every inland waterway, and of all coz
nectcd OF connectable inland water
ways as a whole, should be improved
for the purposes of interstate and
foreign commerce on consistent and
unified plan by which each part
should be made to help every other
part.
An unwise Policy.
we are now at the beginning OF
great development in waterpower
Its use through electrical transmission
Is entering more and more largely
into every element OF the daily life Of
the people. Already the evils OF mo-
nopoiy are becoming manifest; al
ready the experience OF the past
shows the necessity OF caution in
making unrestricted grants of this
great power.
The present policy pursued in max
ing these grants Is unwise In giving
away the property OF the people il
the flowing waters TO individuals OF
organizations practically unknown.
I'm place OF the present haphazard
policy OF permanently alternating thc
valuable. public property we should
substitute definite policy along the
following lines:
Ffrst-There should be limited or
carefully guarded grant in the nature
OF an option or opportunity AFFORDED
ject
Secnd--Such grant or concession
should be accompanied in the act max
ing the grant by provision expressly
making IL the duty OF the designated
official TO annui the grant IL the work
~ not begun or plans are not carried
out in accordance with the authority
granted
Third--It should also be the duty OF
Some designated official to see 20 IL
that in approving the plans the maxi
mum development OF the navigation
and power Is assured or at least that
In making the plans these may not be
so developed as ultimately 10 interfere
with the better utilization OF the wa
ter or complete development OF the
power.
Fourth--There should be a license
fee or charge, which. though small or
nominal at the outset. can In the flu
ture be adjusted so as TO secure a con-
troll IN the interest OF the public.
Fffth--Provlsion should be made for
the termination or the grant or privi-
lege at a definite time. leaving 10 flu
ture generations the power or author
ity to renew or extend the concession
I'm accordance with the conditions which
may prevail at that time.
Yankee-IIl have you know, strang-
er. that belong TO Chicago.
Sandy--Deed an wha'd haze thocht
II? Frae the way we've been speaking
thought Chicago belonged to you
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