The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-14
PRESIDENT OPPOSED 70 GIVING
CONCESSIONS WITHOUT
REcoMPENsE.
PROTECT STREAMS
Chief Executive Urges Congress to
Save the Natural Resources Of the
Nation for the People-WouId Col.
Iect for Power Rights and Have Gov
ernment Hold Control Of Them.

ernment Hold Control OF Them.
Washington, April 13.-In a. special
message today vetoing a dam bill
Presideat Roosevelt warned congress
that there are pending in this session
bills which propose to give away with,
out price stream rights capable Of de.
veloping 100000 horsepower, whose
production would cost annually 25,O0O..
600 tons Of coal; urging in vigorous
terms the establishment of a policy
such as advocated by the fllibustering
minority in the house, which would
safeguard the granting Of bridge and
dam privileges and require the grant.
ees to pay for them; and definitely an
nouncing future policy on his part
with regard to utilization of construc-
tion privileges by refusing his sigma
ture to q bill that gives an additional
three years to the Rainey River IN
provement company within which to
build dam In the Rainey river.
Il do not believe says the presi-
dent, chat natural resources should
be granted and held in an undeyeloped
state, either for speculative or for 9th
er reasons. So far as am aware,
those interested in this case are in no
better condition toutilize this oppor.
tunity than they were at the time of
the original act granting the privilege
10 years ago."
Discusses His Policy.
Discussing broadly the federal pol
icy, the president says:
Every permit to construct dam
on q navigable stream should specih-
cally recognize the right Of the govern
ment to tixsa term for It's duration and
to impose such charge or charges as
may be deemed necessary to protect
the present and future Of the United
States in accordance with the act Of
June /, 1906.
The income derivable from this
source would materially aid In the
complete Improvement Of our naviga-
BILE waters, for which there Is now
such crying need. The chief engin-
GERS Of the army report that the bills
now pending at this session of con-
gress permit the construction Of dams
In nayigable rivers capable Of devel-
oping over 100000 horsepower.
These rivers run every hour in the
day and every day in the year.. To de.
velop this amount OF power would un,
der the average conditions require
about 25,000.00O tons OF medium quail
ity coal year. This natural wealth
is the heritage Of the people. see no
reason for giving It away. Though
there is every reason for not impos-
ing conditions 50 burdensome as to
prevent the utilization Of power.
Water Power Development.
I'VE are now at the beginning of a
great development In water power. It's
use through electrical transmission is
entering more and more largely In ev-
cry element Of the daily life OF the
people. Already the evils Of monopo-
ly are becoming manifest; already the
experience Of the past shows the ne
cessity of caution In making unre-
stricted grants, Of this great power.
"The present policy pursued in max
ing these grants is unwise in giving
away the property Of the people in
the flowing waters to individuals or
organizations practically unknown
and granting in perpetuity these val
uabie privileges in advance of the for
nation Of definite plans as to their
use. In some cases the grantees ap-
parently have little or no financial or
other ability to utilize the gift and
have sought It merely because 1t could
be had for the asking.
Definite Policy Suggested.
"In place Of the present haphazard
policy Of permanently alternating val
liable public property we shiuld sub
stitute a definite policy along the fol
lowing lines:
First. There should be limited
guard grant in the nature of an option
or opportunity afforded within reason
able time for developments of plans
and for expectation Of the project.
Second. Such amount Of concession
should be accompanied In the act max.
ing the grant by provision expressly
making it the duty Of the designated
Official to annul the grant IL the work
is not begun or plans are not carried
out in accordance with the authority
granted.
Third. It should also be the duty
Of some designated ohhcial to see to II
that in approving the plans the maxi
mum developments OF the navigation
and power is assured, or at least, tina,