Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-21
WATERP0WER TAX OPPOSED
OTHER RECoMMENDATIo OF
PRESIDENT FAVORED.
House Subcommittee Ready to Re-
port on Policy to Conserve
Resources.

Practically the first steps toward a more
judicious use of the water powers Of the
country, in line with the policy of Presi-
dent Roosevelt to conserve the natural
resources of the United States. are now
being taken by the House committee on
interstate and foreign commerce in the
preparation Of bill to regulate the con-
struction Of dams across naviSable
waters.
Preliminary consideration, of the sub
ject has developed that there is strong
opposition in Congress to the government
levying a tax on the use OF the water
powers Of the navigable waters. in spite
of the suggestions of the President that
such tax be required.
Committee Has Investigated.
Subsequent to the veto last spring by
the President of the Rainey river project
the interstate and foreign commerce COM
mittee of the House appointed a subcom-
mittee to investigate the subject of legis-
lation in regard to the regulation Of dams
across navigable waters.
During the summer and fall this sub
committee went into various phases OF
the matter. Chairman Stevens Of Mime
sofa Is now ready to explain to the fuii
committee the recommendations of the
subcommittee.
This will be the first matter consid-
cred after the return Of the committee
from Panama, as 1t has been set for Jan
uary %. The members OF the committee
will be asked to consider several consti-
tutional questions involved, such as the
power of the government to levy a tax
for the use of water power OF naviganle
streams and the disposition of the dams
after the expiration of the permits
granted for their construction.
Tax Alone Objected To.
All the recommendations of the Presi-
dent in regard to the improvement Of the
regulations for the construction of dams
are agreed to by the subcommittee, except
the recommendation that a tax be i'm
posed.
The subc ommittee will urge that the
full committee recommended to the House
that tine present laws be SO amended that
the Secretary of War may fix charges
for the privilege Of constructing a DAM
1t will make an alternative recommends
ton that this money either be devoted to
restoring conditions OF navigation to the
original state before the dam was con-
structed or be turned into the treasury
to be applied 10 the improvement of navi-
CATION generally.
In his message the President pointed out
that while 1t appeared that under the
present law there was method OF for
feiture Of permits when conditions we're
not met, owing to there being no definite
imposition Of the duty of declaring for
fixture on any administrative officer. per-
mits were really not forfeited. The SUBJ
committee will urge that this duty be
imposed upon the Secretary of War.
The subcommittee also has accepted the
recommendation Of the President that
there be specific time limitation on the
permits, and has fixed ninety-nine years
as the limit. This is done with a view
Of the public keeping control of the great
waterways. and of the government retain
ing the right to eventually remove a dam
should il become an obstruction under
changed conditions.