Norwich bulletin., 1909-01-16
PRESIDENT HITS
AT MONOPOLY,
VGtoes Grant Of Private Rights
to Water Power.
SCORES CORPORATION GREED.


prene Importance 10 America Now
That Other Natural Resources Are
Being Rapidly Exhausted.
Washington, Jan. 15.-In returning
today to the house OF representatives
without his approval a bill granting
private rights in a nRvigabls stream
President Roosevelt says:
return herewith without my APP
proval house bill 17,To7, to authorize
William H. Standish to construct q
dam across James river in Stone eoun-
ty, Mo-, and divert a portion Of its
waters through a tunnel into the said
river again to create electric power.
The bill gives to the grantee a Valu-
able privilege, which by its very ma
ture is monopolistic and does not con-
tain the conditions essential to protect
the public interest.
Monopoly Threatened.
The people Of the country are threat
ened by a monopoly far more power
full, because In far closer touch with
their domestic and Industrial life, than
anything known TO our experience. A
single generation WILL see the exhaus-
ton Of our natural resources Of OF
and gas and such rise in the price Of
coal as will make the price Of cleo
trically transmitted water power a
controlling factor in transportation, In
manufacturing and in household light
ing and heating. To give away, with
out conditions, this, one Of the great
est of our resources, would be an act
of folly.
Information collected BY the bureau
Of corporations shows that 1t Is prob
able that eleven corporations directly
or Indirectly control developed water
power and advantageous power sites
equal to more than a third OF all the
developed water power IN the entire
country. 1t is, in my opinion, relative
! " unimportant for Us to know whether
or not the promoters of this particular
project are afiliated with any Of these
| great corporations. The time to attach
conditions and prevent monopoly b
when a grant is made.
The great corporations are acting
with foresight, singleneSs Of purpose
and vigor to control the water powers
! Of the country. They are demanding
legislation for unconditional grants In
! perpetuity Of land. On the other
hand. the administration proposes that
authority be given to issue power per-
mits for a term not to exceed fifty
years. irrsvocabls except for breach Of
| condition.
The suggestion Of the senate commit
| tee on commerce in their report on the
present bin that many Of the streams
for the damming Of which a federal
license is sought are in fact unnaviga-
BILE is sufficiently answered IN this
case by the action Of the house com
mittee on interstate and foreign com
merce upon this very measure. A bill
to declare this river unnavigable was
rejected by that committee.
Government Policy Stated,
repeat the words with which con
cluded my message vetoing the Rainy
| river bill:
"In place Of the present haphaEard
| policy Of permanently alternating yalu-
able public property we should Bubsti-
tute a definite policy along the follow
ing lines:
"First.-There should be a limited OF
carefully guarded grant In the nature
Of an option or opportunity Afforded
within reasonable time for develop
ment Of plans and for execution Of the
| project.
"Second.-Such a grant or concession
should be accompanied in the act max.
ing the grant by a provision expressly
making It the duty Of a designated Off
| cial to annul the grant II the work IA
not begun or plans are not carried out
In accordance with the authority grant.
/ ed.
"Third--It should also be the duty
! Of some designated oficial 10 see to II
that in approving the plans the mar
| imum development OF the navigation
and power is assured, or. at least, that
IN making the plans these may not be
so developed as ultimately to interfere
with the better utilization Of the water
or complete development Of the power.
. OuII0.-luet6 buOulu 70 u uCuuDc
fee or charge which, though small or
nominal at the outset, can In the fu-
| ture be adjusted 20 as to secure con-
troll In the interest of the public.
"Fifth.-Provision should be made
for the termination Of the grant or
privilege at a definite time, leaving to
future generations the power or an
thority to renew or extend the con-
cession in accordance with the condi-
lions which may prevail at that time"
Further reflection. suggests a sixth
eondition-viz:
The license should be forfeited upon
proof that the licensee has Joined in
any conspiracy or unlawful combins-
ton in restraint Of trade, as is provid-
ed for grants Of coal lands in Alaska
by the act Of May rs, 1908.
esteem it my duty to use every en-
deavor to prevent this growing mo-
nopoly. the most threatening which has
ever appeared.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.