The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-06

vantage and CsTtaiu ktni 81 t"utIoi
over tn, U.s., uf tho water power, and y l.
PROPOSAL that the Ooyrrniu-nt IA draIlnk
with IT, own lands should use this ui-
vanta,. AMI lrH-, lands for power sites
% those Who would develop the power.
and lmpu-" conditions Ola the l"a-'hold
Wsh reference t. the rra-onahlrilr-7
OF IN. rates a. which t.s power, " hen
transmitted. l. 70 b" furnished 10 the
pubic. and fUrbidiIug The union - Tn"
particular power With com hinaftpu
- others made Tor th. purpose ~ m"n"p-
uly by forhlidiug 49, t'u"tt ~ tins iea,e
ave by consent 80 the Government.
Serious dtfilnrlltIa- arr anticipated ty
some IA -rfun au attempt uu ga" part 81
Tia general Government. 's--' 'l-' ri
'h.. sovereign control 81 the state over
tn, water power in 10 natural condition,
and the mere proprirtorship 81 the 'tuv-
eminent Ia the riparian lands
1t - COntanded that through it, mere
proprietary right In the site. the central
Government has no power 20 attempt TO
exerci-. police jurisdiction ia reference
20 how the water power IA riyer owned
and controlled 10y the state shall be Used,
and that ~ u q violation OF the state
night / question the validity Of this oO-
l.Ction The Government NAV impose
any conditions that u chooses IA its lease
Of is own property, even though 10 may
have the same purpose. and In eject ac-
complLsh just what The state would accom-
pIsh by the exercise Of 10 sovereignty
There are those tand the Director OF the
geological Survey, Mr. Smith. who has
gwen great deal of attention 90 this
matter. u one OF them who insist that
thIs matter Of transmitting water power
into electricity which can be conveyed all
over ths country and across state Inns.
- a matter that ought to he retained lby
th- general Govcrnmeut and that u
saould avail itself u the ownership of
these power sites for the very purpose OF
cuordinating m one general plan The power
generated from these Government owned
sites
-Ou the other hand. it il contsnds-d that
" would relieve "a complicated 80 nation
II the cpnsrol of ths water power srTb and
the control 81 ths water we're vested IA
the same sovereig nty and ownership VIZ ID.
the States. aud then were disposed 81 for
development to private le-sss-s under she
r.-triCtlo IONS needed 10 preserve the IN
i''r..-is ~ the public from the eNtOTt iOI~
ard abuses 81 monopoly therefore.
ulis have h,-.a Introduced in tongr"--
providing that whsuever the state AL
'rpritI.. deem water power useful th"y
may apply 90 the Government 81 III"
nltol states for a grant 10 the state ~
the adIac"n. land Tor d water power sit"
and that This grant from the Federal
Government 10 the State shall contain a
cond'ion that the state shall never part
with ia" title TO the water power site or
th" water power. but shall lease II only
Tor term u years not exceeding ntIy.
with provisions ia ths leasc 10y which
h.. rental and the rates Tor which the
power j. Furnished e. 'h. public shall 10
read isr..d ~ T---iG1- less than tho term
81 rn. lease say every ten years
b." Argument JOS urged against this DIS
'.ps ltlpu at power sites that Legislators and
state thoTItIes ara more sub sCf TO cor
purat" influence AMI control Than would
he the central Government. in reply ~ -
claimed that a rsadiustmen' Il The terms
Of lelsehold every ten years would secure 20
fl' publ" aud the state Just aud "gu.'aDc
terms Then u D. sad thai 49," = .tia vu-
thori'i.> are better able 20 underztani tue
local need and what ,> d FAR adjustment
20 the particular locality than would Toe the
authorities AZ Washington " uas been
argued that after the Federal Government
,aTfs with title TO a power 80" 70 cannot
control the action ~ the stat. IN fulhlilug
tho conditions Of the des.i. ~ VII Oh u - an
swersci that 10 the grant from the Govern
weut 'her" may be easily ns"rtel a con
tuition specifying the terms upon which
100" STAT. NAV part With he temporary
control - the water poW?r sito- and, in
deed. the water power. AM providing
for q forfeiture % the ii'l" - the
water pOWar sites IN case The con-
dition - not CPrfoNncd and giving 10 the
President. Ia ease 81 such violation ~ con-
dit iou.. the power TO declare forfeiture and
20 direct proceedings o. restore tho CEN
tTIl Government To the ownership - the
. power sites with all the improvements
thereon and that these CoptiitiOns may he
promptly enforced and the land and plants
forfeited 20 the general Government by
Suit ~ The United States sgn net th. state.
which ~ permissible Un'Nr the tonstitI-
ton
4 do not express an opinion upon the
COntrOVe rpv thus made ~ . preference
az 90 the two methods ~ treating water
power sites shall submit the matter
TO Con gross and urge that ono or the other
u the two plans be adopted
At the risk 70 worrying nv audience
! have attempted 10 state "a succincsiy
J as may he the questions ~ conservation
| az they apply 10 the public domain az the
| Government tho conditions 90 which
' thcy apply and the proposed solution
e th@Fn In the outset I alluded 90 thu