Catoctin clarion., 1910-01-27
THURSDAY, JANUARY "a, 1910.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, D. c., JAN. ~.

(FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, D. c., JAN. 22.
Senator Carter, of Montana, has
drafted bill to authorize the issu-
ance of the states patents for public
lands which are chiefly valuable fol
the development of water power. The
measure is an outgrowth of the dis
cussions at the recent conference OF
Governors held in Washington and is
aimed to meet the demands of those
who insist that the states and not the
general government shall assume con
troll of this phase of the conservation
problem. Mr.. Carter is one OF the
strong men in Congress, an able de-
batter and an experienced legislator
As chairman of the Committee on IT.
rigation he made careful and ex-
haustive inquiry last year OF the pub
lie domain of the west and he is re-
garded as being well equipped to dis
cuss and defend his measure to give
the states control of the development
of water powers.
The Carter bill differs fundament-
ally from that drafted by the Secre-
tary of the Interior, with the approx
al of the President and introduced by
Senator Nelson. The Nelson bill pro-
vides that the government shall retain
title to all power sites on the public
domain, granting only easements
thereon and in such way as to pre-
vent their union for purposes of mon
opoly with other sites. The right OF
use is to be limited to forty years,
with means for determining gradu-
ated rental, and with provision fol
fixing the terms of renewal.
1t is proposed in the Carter bill
that the Federal government shall
give these lands outright to the States
which would thereafter handle and
control them for power development.
The bill provides also that they shall
never ALLEVIATE the fee simple title t.
the land and shall reserve the right
to fix the rental rates based on capac-
ity for power development. The
state is also to regulate the price to
be charged for the electric current
generated by the water power.
1t is apparent that great legal
battle will be fought out in Congress
before the question of the rights OF
the states and the federal government
resp citing water power control is
finally settled. This problem has
given the National Waterways Com
mission more trouble than all the
other questions that have arisen be.
frre that Commission. 1t is entirely
possible that some of the Senator,
from the great land states of the far
west will line up with the southern
Democrats on this question on tn,
ground that an effort is being made
by the general government to take
away rights granted the states in the
Constitution.
There are few walters at Rolla
Missouri, where Representative Muir
ply makes his home. But in Wash
ington, where Mr.. Murphy takes his
meals in the winter time, the waiter
is very much in evidence. Mr.. Muir.
ply has introduced an anti-tippine
bill, but his measure is not general ir
its scope. The Missouri Congress
man wants to try his plan in the Dis
trict of Columbia. 1t provides tha,
no waiter shall take a tip and no pro.
prietor shall allow tips to be accepted
The penalty provided is fine rang
ing from S. to $50. In view of tn,
agitation for reduction in the cos
of living Mr.. Murphy thinks hi.
measure ought to prove very popular
among those who have to patroniz'
restaurants and hotels.
There are signs of a widespread and
vigorous campaign against the pro,
posed legislation to increase the post
age rates on magazines with view
to wiping up the deficit in the Post
Office Department. Certain maga.
zines have already begun to send out
circulars to their advertisers and sub
scribers denouncing the plan. A
number of these circulars have founC
their way to members of Congress anc
a greater number of letters from con
stituents based on these circulars have
come to the Committee on Postoffice.
and Post Roads. Hearings on the
proposed legislation will begin on
January 26 and it is expected that 8