The Cairo bulletin., 1910-09-06

1 '
ton aril the mere proprietorshipfo Of the
governaent In the riparian lands
1t IL commended that through its mere
proprietary eight In the site the cen
| tral government has no power to at
| tempt to exercise police jurisdiction
with reference 10 how the water power
| In river owned and controlled by tie
state shall be used and that II IL a
violation of the states rights. ] qies-
ton the validity Of this objection.
On the other hmnd. II is contended
that II would relieve a complicated
situation II the control OF the wafer
power site and the control of the WI
| ter were vested IN the same sovereign
| ty and ownershlp-viz, the states and
then were disposed Of for devlop-
ment TO private lesscrs under the re-
strictions needed to preserve the inter
ests of the public from the extortions
and abuses Of monopoly.
Bills In Congress,
Therefore bills have been Introduced
In congress providing that whenever
| the state authorities deem watec
power useful they may apply to the
government OF the United States for u
grant to the state Of the adja"ent
, land for water power site and that
| this grant from the federal govern
dition that the state shall never pirt
with the title TO the water power site
or the water power, but shall lease It
only for term of years not exceeding
fifty, with provisions In the LEASE by
(which the rental and rates for which
the power is furnished to the public
shall be readjustcd at periods less than
the term of the lease, say every ten
years.
| The argument Is urgedagainst thfsfiis-
| position OF power sites that legislators
and state authorkieAarc more subject
| to corporate influence and control than
| would be the central government. In
| reply II Is claimed that a REIMBURSEMENT
of the terms of leasehold every ten
years would secure TO the public and
the state just and equitable terms.
| Then II Is said that the state au.
| thoritles are better able TO understand
| the local need and what Is fair nd
Justment IN the particular locality
than would be the authorities at
| Washington.
| II has been argued that after the
| federal government parts with title to
| a power site 1t cannot control the ac
ton of the state In fulfilling the con
ditions of the deed, to which II Ia
answered that IN the grant from the
government there may be easily IN
serted n condition specifying the terms
upon which the state may part with
the temporary control of the water
power sites, and. indeed, the winter
power, and providing fer a forfeiture
of the title to the water power sites
In case the condition is not performed.
and giving to the president, in case
Of such violation OF conditions, the
power to declare forfeiture and to d.
rect proceedings to restore the central
government to the ownership of the
| power sites, with all the Improvements
| thereon, and that these conditions may
be promptly enforced and the land and
plants forfeited TO the general gov
ernment by suit of the United States
against the state, which Is permits
sible under the constitution.
do not express an opinion upon the
controversy thus made or prefer
ence as TO the two methods of treating
| water power sites. shall submit the
matter to congress and urge that one
or the other of the two plans be
adopted.
o. KS Last Administration.
I have referred to thezcourse OF the
last administration and of the present
one In making Withdrawals of govern
ment lands from entry under home
stead and other laws and of congress
In removing all doubt as TO the validity
Of these Withdrawals as great step In
the direction OF practical conservation.
But It is only one OF two necessary
steps to effect what should be our pur-
pDst, IL HIS plouuNtu Il Sihtuo wv
and prevented waste and irrevocable
disposition of the lands until the meth
cd for their proper disposition can be
formulated.
But II Is of the utmost Importance
that such Withdrawals should not DO
regarded as the final step in the course
Of conservation and that the idea
should not be allowed to spread that
conservation is the tying up Of the
natural resources Of the government
for indefinite Withholding from use and
the remission to remote generations to
decide what ought to be done with
these means Of promoting present gen
eral human comfort and progress.
For, if so, 1t Is certain to arouse the
greatest opposition to conservation as
cause, and II 1t were a correct ex-
preston Of the purpose OF conserva-
tionsts 1t ought to arouse this opposia
ton. Real conservation involves wise.
nonwasteful use In the present genera
ton. with every possible means OF
preservation for succeeding genera
lions. and. though the problem to Sc
cure this end may be difficult. the bur
den is on the present generation
promptly to solve 1t and not to run
away from 1t as towards, lest In the