The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-17

Washington, April 15.-In a special
message vetoing a dam bill. President
Roosevelt waEne congress there are
pending in this session bills which pro-
pose to give away without price stream
rights capable Of developing 1900, 600
horse power, whose production would
cost annually %, O00, 900 tons of coal. He
urged in vigorous terms the establish
ment of a policy which would safeguard
the granting of bridges and dam privi-
leges and require the grantees to pay
for them. and definitely announced his
position with regard to prompt utiliza-
ton of construction privileges by refus-
ing his signature to u bill giving an adj
ditional three years to the Raincy
River improvement company within
which to build a dam In the Rainey
river.
Not for Speculation.
II don't believe says the president.
that natural should be
granted M held In on undeveloped
condition for speculative or other rea-
SONS. So far as I am aware there are
no assurances that h grantees Tin
this case) are in any better condi-
tion promptly and properly to utilize
this opportunity tina they were at the
time OF the original act (granting the
privilege) ten years ago"
Discussing broadly the federal policy,
the president says:
EVERY permit W construct a dam on q
navigable stream should specifically recoe-
nize the right of the government to fix a
term for Its duration, and to impose such
charge or charges as may be deemed
necessary to protect the present and flu
ture interests of the United States in ac-
c%ordance with the act OF June q, 1906.
The provision for a charge is of vital i'm
p%ortance. The ~navlgability of every in
land waterway. and of all connected or
cornectable inland waterways, as a whole,
should be improved for the purpose of in
sistent and unified plan by which each
part should be made to help every other
Heritage Of People.
Til income derivable from this source
would materially aid in the complete i'm
provement OF our navigable waters for
which there Is now such crying need. The
chief OF engineer of the army reports
sion of congress permit the construction
OF dams in navigable streams capable of
developing over 100000 horse power These
every day in the year. To develop this
amount Of power would, under average
conditions, require about 100000 tons Of
natural wealth is the heritage of the peo-
pie. see no reason for giving it away
though there Is every reason for not i'm
posing posing c o. iii,1 so b1rdensome as to
We are now at the beginning Of a great
development in water power. Its use
through electrical transmission is entering
Of the daily life of the people. Already
the evils of m%onopolies are becoming mani
fest; already the experience OF the past
unrestricted grants of this great power.
The present policy pursued in making
these grants is unwise IN Swing away the
p paopsr's TO OF i hnn 9uaR,e or IN o ,Rs ilaTlmk
practically unknown, and granting in per-
petuity these valuable privileges in ad-
vance of the formation Of definite plans as
to their use; In some cases the grantees
apparently have little or no financial or
other ability to utilize the gift and have
sought 1t merely because 1t could be had
for the asking.
Definite Policy.
In place of the present haphazard policy
OF permanently alternating valuable public
property we should substitute a definite
policy along the following lines:
fully guaranteed grant in the nature of an
option or opportunity afforded within rea-
sonable time for development Of plans and
for execution of the project.
2. Such a grant or concession would be
accompanied In the act making the grant
by a provision expressly making it the
duty Of the DESIGNATED official to annul
plans are not carried out in accordance
with the authority granted.
3. 1t should also be the duty OF some
designated official to see to it that In ap-
proving the plans the maximum develop
ments OF the navigation and power are as
sured. or at least that in making the plans
these may not be SO developed as ulti-
mately to interfere with. the better utiliza-
tion of the water or complete development
Of the power.
4. There should be a license fee or charge
small or nominal at the outset, which can
in the future be adjusted SO as to Sc
cure a control in the interests Of the pub
lie.
s. Provision SHOULD be made for the ter
minatiOn of grant or privilege at a definite
time leaving to future generations the
power or authority to renew or extend the
concession in accordance with the condi-
tons that may prevail at that time.