The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-16

They are demanding iesisIation for un- for reservofrs. conduits, power houses, | and transmission lines to replace the exiating statute which authorizes the administrative omcers Of the Govern
 the public when any permit Is issued. |.
 Several bills for that purpose are now pending in both Houses among them
 OF hsid by the 1nssS sss to demnafion in the State courts, and the pills. H. R. 1856 and S. 2es1. respect lively, to grant locations and rights of l poses through the public lands and | reservations of the United States These bills were either drafted by represent
 of tss peTer se ,Sossp SSopapnss sps or l On the other hand, the administration proposes that authority be given to is- sue power permits for term not to for bresch of condition. This provision would remove the only valid ground of l objection to the act of 1901. which ex- pressiy makes all permits revoeable at
 The following amendment to author | ize this in national forests was inserted n last years agricuItural appropria- .'And hereafter for power plants l within national forests may be made irrevocable. except for breach of con- | ditfon. for such term, not exceeding tnre may by regulation prescribe. and land covered by such permits issued in pursuance of an application filed be- sUr.ns .0fs snasy location, nro. or sppi.issation
 of June II. 1906. shall in perpetuity re-
 main subject to such permit and re- | newals thereof" U
 companies present in Washington dur | ing the last session agreed upon the bill above mentioned as the. most fa- vorable to their interests. At their request frequent conferences were held between them and the reprsntatives of the administration, for the purpose of reaching an agreement If possible. The
 thas Frant in 'q scespf aya sisted that the slight charge now im- posed by the Forest Service was op- pressive. But they made no response condolences of the charge be determined l through an investigation of their bus mess by the Bureau of Corporations.
 erovidnE fof Gr sns being new legislation was stricken out under the House rules upon . point of order made by friends of the House plii--that is.l by. friends of the power companies. Yet. in the face of this re- cord the power companies complain that they are forced to accept revoc- able ai,I, permits by the policy of the ad-
 The new iegislation sought in their own interest by some companies in the West. and the opposition of other com lation in the public interest, have a common source and q common purpose. Their source is the rapidly growing water-power combination. Their pur- pose Is a centralized monopoly of hy- dro-electric power development free of . monopoiy of power in m any SSy'vSa eomma. raa. nIty calls for strict public supervision The suggestion of the Senate Com. I mittee on Commerce in their report on the present bill that many of the Federal license is sought are. in fact, unnaytgable Is sufficiently answered in this case by the action of the House SSommi1.se Son , on Interstate ,s, and Foreign l stated in the House on March IS, 1908 by Mir. Russell of Missouri, bill to declare this river unnavigablc was re- Jected by that committee
 Repeats His Words.
 repeat the words with which I fSSncluds Sn,cn s,,,ny my ,,nt message vetoing the Tn place of the present haphazard policy of permanently alienating valu- able public property we should sub stifute q definite policy along the fol-
 First There should be limited or carefully guarded grant in the nature within reasonable time for deveIopment ject
 Ing. the grant by a provision expressly making 1t the duty of desingnated ohicial to anfiul the grant if the work out In accordance with the authority
 Third. It should also be the duty ofes4n0 r<Vl IA that in approving the plans the ma1l- mum 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 wa ter or complete development of the
 Fourth. There should be a license fee or charge which, though small or nominal at the outset, can in the fu- copera3 .ope 6e adjusted ,,ar so as tS secure
 Firth. Provision should be made for the termination of the grant or privilege at a definite time. leaving to Future generations the power or authority to renew or extend the con cession in accordance with the condi- tions which may. prevail at that time"
 Iia,r F4irt,ner renection suggests sixth
 The license should be forhted upon proof that the license has joined in tion in restraint of trade. as is provid- ed for grants of coal lands in Alaska by the act of May 28. 1903.
 T VIII sign no bill granting pri- Vhese or this character which does not contain substance of these conditions, consider myself bound, as far as exer else of my executive power win allow. 70 do for the people, in prevention of monopoly of their resources, what I believe they would do for themselves If they were in a position to act. Ac- ccordingly I shall insist upon the condi- tons mentioned above not only in acts which l sign, but also in passinR upoH plans for use of water power present. ed to the executive departments for action. The imposition of conditions has received the sanction of Congress Tn the general act of 1906, regulating the construction of dams in navigabIe waters, which authorize the imposing of such conditions and stipulations as Ghief Engineers and the Secretary of War may deem necessary to protect United States" VI '''e
 inclose a letter from the Commits sioner Of Corporations, settinp forth the results of his investigations and the evidence of the farreaching plans and operations of the General EeIectric company, the Westinghouse Electric ana snn Manufaeturing Company, and other large concerns. for consolidation of inc water powers of the country under tnelr control. I also inclOse-tAe me. morandum of the Solicitor CeparsI above referred to. "i
 l esteem 1t my duty to use every an. deaVor to prevent this growing mono. poly the most threatening wi9tch has ever appeared, from being fastened nn9 on the people of this nation.