The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-19
GARFIELD FEARFUL OF
WATER POWER TRUST

DENVER. Colo. April 1S.-ln a
lengthy address delivered before the Colo
RADIO State Conservation commission
James r Garfield, former secretary Of the
interior. spoke upon the subject OF con-
scrvation OF water rights. the state and
federal control OF water power sites and
the general principles of conservation.
Mr.. Garfield pointed out the dangers OF
monopolizatIon Of the water power sites
of the county and declared that II q
water power trust" was not already in
10 make up such a trust are present and
the tendency toward such centreliza-
tion is growing stronger every day.
He defended the course. Of former presi-
dent Roosevelt in making use OF a broad
executive authority To make Withdrawals
OF water power sites and sought to show
by quotations from the constitutions and
from the decisions OF Chief Justice Mar
shall that the chief executive was fully
empowered to conserve such public inter
csts under the broad rule OF the general
welfare"
.sin brief" said Mr.. Garfield. the
condition IS this. The federal government
owns property essential for the develop
ment of water power. The states CON
troll the use OF water within their respcc-
tive boundaries. To bring together these
two elements necessary for water power
development the nation and states should
co operate.
Ing and using water. OF necessity ignore
state lines and nothing VIII be more ac-
ceptable 10 these interests than TO have
the federal government withdraw from
all attempts 10 control their transactions
Again. unless the federal government
retains and exercises such control, the
interests Of the people Of ono state may
be seriously jeopardizcd by the action OF
an adjoining state
"The use OF water continued MIR
Garfield. lis one OF Immediate and most
Important OF all conservation problems.
1t is therefore necessary to hnve n clear
understanding Of the conditions and the
pending propositions.
Possibilities Realized.
During tho last ten years the grca,
possibilities for the use OF water have
been appreciated, Everywhere private In
tcrcsts arc attempting to gain control Of
vantage points for development. The fight
Is on in nation and state. The question
Is simply this;
"Shall the public control and regulate
the use OF water in accordance with the
needs Of tho people and for tho benefit
of tho people or shall private interests
own and control tho use Of water for
its own gain without regard to rights
aud needs of the public" II is certain an
intolerable wafer monopoly will be fast
eucd upon our people unless the public
IN both nation and state assert its an
thority and control the use of water
THE use Of water for the develop
nneDt of power. for storage and for irrlea-
ton mems. of necessity, exclusive uses
In particular places and such exclusive
uee is readily turned into oppressive
monopoly upless regulated by the pub
He. 1t Is not enough 10 deny a water
trust exists today. All clements which
20 Ia make mp such n trust a re in OK
IStcnce and the tendency towards such
Capitalization grows stronger day by
day,
"The conservation Of water applies 10
all It's uses, There arc those who attack
conservation. alleging Conscrva ton means
non-usc. non development. but no such
proposition has been put forward by the
leaders conservation
Az has been defined over and over again
il means Wise use and development of
water for domestic purposes Irrigation
water power and navigation In accordance
with tho needs of the present generation
hut with due regard for tho future and
under control OF public authority.
During the last few years both ma
tion and states have been attemptInc
TO deal with this problem. In many
Continued on PAGE Two.