The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-06-15
FIRST ROUND LOST
BY DEhEEh FORCES
CONTINUED from First page.)

eral Assembly is called upon 10 en-
under consideration by you ut this
session, was drawn by Your Honor
able Body and approved by the people
of Illinois upon no other theiry than
that the $21,000,00o or waterway
bonds authorized to be issuei wouio
be repaid as they matured out OF the
revenue produced by the water power
developed. In order to carry out
his purpose and object of the con
stitutional amendment, it Is neces-
sary, therefore, that the State acquire
he water power sites required FOR
he development and control of the
Incidental water power from which
done the State can hope to derive
IS such is not a reyenue-producinS
project.
In an effort to accomplish this main
md plain purpose and object OF the
constitutional amendment, all en-
leayor has already been made by the
State to prevent the requirement or
water power sites by private citizens
md corporations and the matter is
low the subject Of litigation which
outlined in my special message
# April %, 1911. AS stated in pre-
lous messages upon this subject, de-
ny in the enactment of this legisia'
ion is ieopardizing the public rights
nd endangering the interests OF the
tate in this valuable resource. II
aese are not to be lost or surrender
II to private interests, the powers
entered upon the General Assembly
" the constitutional amendment
Mould be exercised at once SO that
ae great wealth Of water power, all
which has been created by TAXA
on, shall inure to the benefit of the
tate and not pass into private con-
OIL This | regard as the determln
lg factor of the waterway situation
I'D upon the action OF the Genears
ssembly in this matter depends the
lestion who shall own and control
hat should be one Of the States
ost valuable natural assets.
The Federal board of Engin-
srs appointed to confer with the
tate of Illinois upon the waterway
uestion has already reported favor.
bly, to Congress upon the Illinois
reject. Unfortunately, however, the
aderal board was obliged to report
lithcut being able to confer with
ny Illinois commission because no
UGH commission had been created by
our Honorable Body for such con
arence. President Taft however,
as stated in his letter of April H.,
oil, addressed to me and found in
i'll on page q of the appended mes
age, that ne will.
Recommend to the Congress that
ie term of service of said board be
lntinued and that it be empowered
reopen the question of the treat
ent OF the lower Illinois river and
negotiate with commission here
ter to be created by your General
ssembly and TO agree with such
mmission upon plan for the i'm
ovemnt of the lower Illinois river
Id upon the extent to which the
nited States may probably co-ope-
tie with the State Of Illinois In sc
airing the construction of nayigG-
lie waterway from Lockport to the
outh of the Illinois river in con-
notion with the development of
alter power by the State between
ockport and Utica"
To enable the State to negotiate
18th the federal government before
uly !, 1912, it will be necessary tina,
law be enacted before July |, 1911,
Mess such a measure is passed with
a emergency clause. In my judg-
ent, having in mind what is oointed
ut in my message of April 25, 1911,
to the present activities of water
over companies, the deferring. OF
his matter for another year, will be.
ond question, have the effect OF
rfording to private interests further
opportunities to acquire these vag4-
)le water power sites and may
rove inimical to the States entire
atewway and water power plOject
set forth in the constitutional
menlment.
Moreover, The federal government
hich, as already shown. has indl-
lted It's willingness to confer with
n Illinois commission upon the sub
sct Of federal cooperation between
ockport and Utica and the irnpro.
ement by the federal government
the lower Illinois river, has sug
ested that its action in these mat
ers, so important to the Interests
our State, be made dependent up,
the prior action of Illinois.
In discussing the federal plans for
ha ;,,,,,po,,n,,,1 ,.4 q - ~.