New-York tribune., 1910-03-31
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

, rs provided that vfolsti % the provisions
OF the act by a state shall entail the for
feiture ~ the site 60 the federal govern
msnt.
DIRECTIONS MET-The purpose of Mr..
Smoot and his associates I'm delegating TO
:he states control OF the water power sites
within their limits is tWofold. II is de-
signed 20 meet the objections ot those who
maintain that IL Is too great an extension
OF the federal power for the government
To attempt TO control in detail the power
sites within state limits. Moreover. il Is
held 70 be In accordance with the spirit of
the Constitution TO delegate TO the states
the control OF the water power sites. mas
much as the Supreme Court has repeatedly
held that the water of streams is subject
TO the jurisdiction OF the state through
which Il passes. II is admitted that So
long az the federal government holds the
power sites The states cannot utilize such
water. but II IS not regarded as good legis-
iaton 20 take advantage OF such a situation
TO deprive the states Of water which is
unquestionably theirs. II Is already OBJ
vious, however. that the extreme school
Of conservationists VIII resist the plan pro-
posed in the Smoot bill. regardless OF the
-
feoeral government should retain complete
control and supervision Of the power sites
dictate the terms on which they may be
leased. etc, and that the states are not to
o" trusted 10 this extent. II is expected
mat there will be much Misrepresentation
OF the Smoot bill, which appears 10 he the
only measure OF this character which can
be passed.
DEMOCRATS AGAINST LABOR.-The
Democrats, under the leadership Of Senator
Bailey OF Texas. presented unexpected op-
position 10 the employers liability law TO-
day. preventing the adoption OF a measure
reported favorably from the Committee on
judiciary by Mr.. Borah and designed 10
perfect that Law. IL appears that the Su-
preine Court OF Connecticut recently de-
cided that the state courts lacked concur
rent jurisdiction over liability cases because
OF the federal enactment. and il has fur
ther become obvious that the statute should
be perfected by declaring the ''line OF de-
scent" so that the legal descendants os
employees killed in the line OF duty may
recover the damages contemplated by the
law. Mr.. Borah reported an amendment
20 the existing law extending to the state
courts concurrent jurisdiction and defining
the line OF descent. but when he asked its
adoption Mr.. Railey objected and made an
argument against the entire liability law
on the ground that IL violated the rights OF
the states. Senator Lodge sought 10 make
il clear that the argument was not aermane
10 the pending amendment. and insisted
that Congress was committed 10 the policy
involved in the employers liability act,
which Is supported by every labor organiza-
ton. but on the persistent opposition Of
Mr.. Bailey the amendment went over until
tomorrow. although not uutil Mr.. Lodge
had taken the steps necessary 10 insure its
further consideration then.
CORPORATION TAX PUBLICITY
Representative Fitzgerald. OF New York.
gave notice to-day that he would oppose
the amendment 10 the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial bin which confers on the
President discretion 10 make public only
such returns made under the corporation
TAX law as he may deem necessary for the
public interest Mr.. Fitzgerald, who is as
sumed TO ne actuated by partisan motives,
declares he will endeavor 10 compel the
publication Of all the returns SO made, and
there is some fear that he will be able 10
command more or less support from the in
surgents. thus causing a prolonged and bit
ter contest. as il will not he easy 70 in
duce the Senate TO recede from its posi-
tion. q q II