Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-01
WATER-POWER PROBLEM
UNDER PRESIDENTS EYE
Taft Approves Plan to Lease
Sites for Public Lands for
Periods of Fifty Years.

President Taft this afternoon approved
a plan for the solution Of the water-power
problems on public lands.
BY the terms of the plan which was
formulated by representatives of the Ag-
ricultural and Interior departments it is
proposed that the national government be
authorized to lease water-power sites for
periods not to exceed fifty years.
The statement issued by direction of
Mr. Taft sets forth that.
The principal points of the plan now
formulated are: That legislative au-
thority be sought for issuing term leases
for periods not to exceed fifty years: that
these leases should contain stipulations
to protect the public against the limita,
ton of output through delayed or partial
Development that a yearly rental charge
should be made, based on the amount OF
power available: that violation OF the con-
ditions imposed or persistence in charging
consumers a rate declared excessive, by
a state supreme court. should be ground
for the cancellation of the lease; that at
the expiration of the lease the lessee
should have preference right to re-
newal unless the government desires to
take possession of the property for pub
lie purposes. and that if the lessee fails
to secure a renewal either because the
government needs the land or because
another applicant offers better terms. the
previous lessee shall be compensated for
the actual value Of improvements on the
ground or allowed to remove such equip
ment as would have value when re-
moved
Will Not Force Occupant.
To prevent any attempt to disturb an
occupant or force him to buy out rights
secured under a mining or other claim It
is proposed that sites leased for power
development shall be excepted from the
effect of any law authorizing the pros
pecting, entering. locating or patenttng
Of lands under thu mining or other laws
which would permit their being taken up
by outside parties. except so far as such
action would not interfere with their use
for water-power development. In other
words. recognition of water-pOWer de-
velopment on power sites as the dominant
use would be made, but without prohibit
ing other use consistent with their
dominant use.
Under the same principle the plan pro-
poses method to permit of the reserva-
ton Of valuable water-power sites with
out tying up the development of large
areas of public land through power with
drawals. IT asks that the President be
given authority to designate lands Of the
United States as valuable for water
power development whereby there may
be reserved in perpetuity to the United
States and its lessees all rights to the
occupancy and use Of the land for water
power purposes without otherwise re-
stricting the operation of the present
public land laws.
President Submits New Plan.
The new plan has been submitted by
the President to Senator Nelson and Rep
resentative Mondell, chairman OF the Sen
ate and House committees on public
lands. 1t was drawn up by Chief Fores-
ter Graves. George P. McCabe. solicitor
of the Department of Agriculture, and
James B. Adams Of the forester's Office,
representing the Department of Agri-
culture. and by Edward c. Finney, chief
law officer Of the reclamation service:
Director Smith of the geological survey
and Commissioner bennett Of the general
land Office. representing the Department
of the Interior.
Some suggestions have been made
which will probably be adopted, for this
proposed bill. changing the form Of the
provision looking to a forfeiture Of the
leases for exorbitant public charges and
securing a little more prompt action than
it is thought would be had by reference
to the supreme court of the state.