Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-25
A CONTEST IN CONGRESS.
Struggle Coming for Control o!
Water. Power.
The Administration VIII Demand Re-
strictive LegisIation, Against II
VIII BE Arrsyed Many Large
Companies.

power on streams that come within tho
control OF the federal government saw
the washington correspondent OF tho
BOSTON Transcript Behind the demand
TOT restrictive legislation will be the ma
tonsi administration, supported by the
National Conservation association recent.
Wy organized with former President
Eliot or Harvard at Its head, and var
lous state conservation associations. Ar
raHed against the proposed Legislation
VIII ne many large power companies and
a few mountainous States In the West,
which resent the idea OF the federal gov
eminent stepping in and undertaking to
say how the natural wnter-power within
State borders shall be used. There arc
many things the would-be conservators
OF the country's natural resources would
like to have Congress do. but the deci.
sion has been reached to concentrate all
resources Of the conservation movement
IN this effort to get from Congress- at
the coming session legislation regulating
the use OF water-power.
POWER COMPANIES WILL. FIGHT.
The power companies. which are no,
so very numerous but arc powerful, havs
served notice that they will fight legis.
lation which does not permit them to
lease water-power in perpotuitv The ma.
tional administration purposes 70 ask
for legislation providing that herafter
permits for power plants situated on
streams controlled By the federal govern.
ment shall not be granted for a period
exceeding fifty years. and that such per.
mits shall he revokabie for certain
causes. The proposed legislation will al.
ing water-power permits shall pay a rea-
sonable fee therefor. The general idea
OF the men who are at the head Of the
national conservation movement and on
whom President Taft will rely when It
comes time to make a definite recom-
mendat.on to Congress Is that the con-
troll OF the water-power should not get
away from the federal government; that
the legislation should provide for the use
Of this power to the fullest extent, and
should at the Same time guard against
It's falling into the hands Of a few per-
sons or few corporations.
The assertion has frequently heen
made that as a result Of the legislation
Of the federal government many Of the
most valuable power sites have already
fallen into the hands Of the great power
the truth OF this assertion the bureau
OF corporations received instructions
from President Taft some time ago to
mako q careful investigation for the
purpose Of ascertaining. II possible. the
ownership Of the used as we'll as the
unused water-power Of the country. This
investigation has been practically com.
pleted: At any rate. the report Of the
commissioner Of corporations will bs
ready for the consideration Of Congress
in December.
MANY FINE SITES ALREADY
GRABBED.
It IL tho expectation Of the prime NOV.
ers in the conservation campaign that
this investigation will show that many
Of the most valuable power sites which
formerly wore the property Of the fed.
eral government have already passed IN.
10 the hands Of tho big power companies.
Last January Herbert Knox Smith.
chief Of the bureau OF corporations made
public report Of a partial investiga ton
he had made in which he showed that
within the last five years two or TIRES
Of the large power companies had ac-
quired possession Of great many small
Tor power companies throughout the
country. 1t is very we'll understood that
the purpose OF the inquiry which tina
bureau OF corporations has been making
this summer Is to show. II possible. that
unless Congress steps in and enact re-
trictive Legislation the water-power Of
the country will soon be in the hands Of
a trust. Indeed, Clifford Pinchot has fire.
ouently made the assertion that a trust
now stands ready to gobble up this pow
er unless Congress interferes
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION UNDER
WAY
The bureau Of corporations and the
Geological Survey. cooperating, expect
10 be able 20 tell Congress at the coming
session approximately how much unde-
veioped water-power there IL over which
the government may exercise control.
There are in continental United States
os7 streams navigated for an aggregation
! ~ 49,. miles, and as much more navi-
gable ~ improved The federal authori-
ties take the position that the federal
government may control water-power
not only on the public domain. but on all
navieable streams. OF course. there
could not be dispute as to the right OF
the government to exercise this control
! IN the national forests and on the public
domain but that there always has been
and is still a question as TO whether II
| may invade a State and fix regulations
under which water-power in a stream.
although IL bs navigable. may be used.
As far as the governments investigau ton
has gone II shows that the water-power
nov in use aggregates something like
10000 horse power. The amount run
ming over government dams and not
used Is about l,4ooooo horse power. The
information in hand shows that the
| amount OF water-power reasonably
available exceeds the entire mechanical
mower now in use The National Con-
servatior association maintains that
when the census OF the water-power
sites Is completed il will show that there
is enough water-power in the country In
use. or available, TO operate every mill,
drive every SPINDLE. propel every train
and boat. and hight every city, town and
village in the country. If this statement
is true. and 1t probably Is, IT Will %
seen that the question as to how this
power shall be used is one o. vast im'
portance
WHOLE PROBLEM rs A NEW ONE
The entire problem has come to tht
front within the last five wears WATER
mower sites that had passed unnoticed
for a hundred years have suddenly BE-
come of great value. due TO the intro
duction OF electricity as the chief power
~ the time Since the big electric power
| ,ourar,es began to realize the immense