The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-01-16
PRESIDENT HITS
AT MONOPOLY.
veiOes GTant Of Private Rights
to Water Power.
SCORES CORPORATION GReeD.
In Message TO House He Declares
Complets Control Of country's
Streams Is Aimed At-Ns,,er 81 Su-
pren,e Importance to America Nov
Being Rapidly Exhausted.

Washington Jan. l5-ln returning
today To toe house Of representatives
without his approval a bill granting
private rights ina naNigsble stream
President Roosevelt says
return herewith without my sp-
proVsl hvu-e bill l7.7Os. 10 authorize.
William n SlandiSh TO construct
dam across James river in stone cvuu-
~ Mo- and divert portion Of it,
waters through tunnel into the said
river again Ia create eiectri, power.
The Till gives to the grantee vaig-
able privilege which by its very ma
ture l. ulonopoli>,ic and does not CON
tain the conditions essential To protect
the public interest
Monopoly Thrsstsneo.
The people Of The country ar,. threat.
ened 10y monopoly far more power.
ful. because "a Tar closer touch with
their domestic and industrial lif,. than
anything known to our eNi~rirnc.
single -cnerHtion Will see the eNhsuS-
tion ~ our natural rcsour.rs of oil
and gSs and such rise im the prize 81
cos. as vii make the price Of e.,.c-
tricaiiy transmitted water power q
controlling factor ia transportation. ina
misunderstanding and Ia household iisht-
ing and heating. To give away. with
Out cVnditi"uS. this. one ~ the great
e>t ~ cur Resources. would h., an act
II folly
lnforuat icu collected 10y the bureau
Of corporations shows that Il j. prob
able that eleven corporations directly
or Indirectly control developed water
power and advantageous power sites
equal t. more than third 20 all the.
developed water power ia ia. eutir.
country IL l.. la my opinion. relative
ly uuimI~Viaut FOR a. To know whether
az not the promoters Of this particular
project are sr'1iiat~d with any ~ th-s,
great corporations The time t. stt.cf.
conditions aud prevent monopoly Is
when grant IL made
The great corporations are acting
with foresight siugleuess OF purp,,-..
aud NigoT 10 control the water powers
~ the country. they are demanding
legislation for unconditional grants la
l'~rpetuitY II land On the other
hand. the administration proposes that
authority Dee given To- issue power i..r.
mits Tor "a term not 20 exceed nf.v
years irrevo,-able except for breach -
condition
The suggestion ~ the senate commit.
lee on commerce Ia their report nn the.
present bin that many 81 the streams
Tor the damming u which feJara
license i sought are IN fact uuuavisa-
bic j. sufficiently answered ia ;h.S
case 10y the action Of the house com
inittee on Interstate and foreign com.
merce upon this very measure. A bil
10 declare this river unnaV i-ahle was
rejected 10y that committee.
Government Policy Stated.
I repeat the words with which con
Guided my message vrtoing the Rainy
river bill
In place OF the present haphazari
policy Of permanently alternating ,alu-
able public property We should sub~ti-
iute a definite policy along the follow
ing lines:
First. There should be- limited or
rarefuiiy guarded grant in the nature.
~ an option or opportunity afforded
within reasonable time for develop
ment OF plans and Tor execution ~ th,.
project.
Second Such a grant OF concession
should Ice accompanied in the act max
Ing the grant 10y a provision expressly
making II th- duty " designated OH
cial to annul the grant n the work f.
not begun or plans are not carried out
IN accordance with the authority grant
I'd.
Third. 1t should also be the duty
Of aome designated Official To see L. e.
that In approving the plans the max
imum development ~ the navigation
and power l. assured. or. az least. thar
IN making the plans these may not De.
so developed a. ultimately 10 Interfere.
with the better utilization Of the water
OF complete development II the power
Fourth. There should lie license
fee or charge which. though small or
nominal at the outset. can IN the ~.
ture be adjusted So as To- secure. con
troll in the interest of The public.
| "Fifth.-Proyision should b- mad.
for the termination Of the grant o,
| privilege al drhnite Time. leaving tD
future generations the power or an.
rhority 10 renew or extend the con.
cession in accordance with the rondi
lions which may prevail ~ that time '
Further reflection suggests a sixth
rendition viz
The license should be forfeited upon
proof thar the iicensee has Joined IL
any conspiracy or unla wfui cOmbina
ton Ia restraint Of trade. as l. provid
I'd for grants Of coal lands Ia Alaska
by the act OF May y. 1905
II esteem 81 my hpts ga use every en-
teavor TO prevent this growing mo
popolJ. the most threatening which la,
over appeared
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. Jan. Is. 1909.