The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-05
CONGRESSMAN
WRITES LETTER
ONWATERWAyS
w. p. 6oRLAND, OF MISSOURI, RE-
PLIES TO LETTER OF SECRE-
TARY HENDERSON AND DIS
cUssEs QUESTIONS ASKED BY
THE SECRETARY.

Secretary Henderson, of the Pensa :
cola Commercial Association, and the
Mississippi to Atlantic Waterway AS
socfation, who is also chairman of the
National Waterway Conference, called
by Senator Duncan u. Fletcher, presi-
dent OF the Southern Commercial Con-
gress, and United States senator from
Florida, has addressed letter to the
United States congressman and sena-
tors, governors OF the states, leading
waterway advocates. and the principal
commercial organizations in the United
States. The letter contained the fol-
lowing inquiries:
LIST Shall the decision for or
against a water project rest for favor
able decision solely in the hands OF
engineers7
and. Does the government owner
ship Of the waterways Of the country
carry with II any responsibility for
governmental administration when de-
veloped?
controlled as the railroads are con-
trolled. in order to avoid cut-throat
competition and probable disuse?
4th. As the founders of the country
knew nothing of hydro electric power,
should we not develop, outside OF par
tisan strife, a body of law that shall
permit the double use of waterways.
Many replies have been received.
The waterway conference is to be
held in Nashville, Tenn, as part Of the
Southern Commercial Congress con-
vsntion on ono of the days April $40.
Congressman w. P. Borland. of Mis-
souri,. in answer to this letter, writes
as follows:
Dear Mr.. Henderson. In response
to your favor Of the gath, take pleas
ure in answering your questions as
follows;
Il. do not believe that the decision
for or against the waterway project
should rest solely in the hands OF the
engineers. Congress has full power to
exercise It's own Judgment in view of
all the facts.
'2. 1 do not know Of any RESPONSE
bility on thu government administra-
ton of the waterways after they are
created. 1t should be the purpose of
the government to see that waterways
are so equipped that they are avail
able for the use of all citizens and for
any size craft that can be probably
!. operated; in other words, no private
monopoly should be allowed to grow
up upon government constructed wa
terways.
% The extent to which waterways
can be controlled. as railways are con-
trolled, by the interstate commerce
commission, is one that only actual
experience can answer.
"a. The question of hydro-alectrts
power in connection with government
constsaartAa -uuafarsyays IS still one al
experiment. believe that the primary
purpose Of the government in improv-
ing waterways is to aid navigation anG
, Interstate commerce. II the improve
, ment can be made in such a way as Il
also develop water power II is plair
business sense to develop and utilize
such power. When the power is de.
reloped the government appears In
double aspect: as to the navigation o.
the stream its ducies and It's contro
are those Of a sovereign. but az to the
, use Of the water power 1t Is In the DO
sikion of n private proprietor who SELL
or leases his power on such terms a,
seem Just. have given some though
to this matter and have arrived at tn,
X conclusion that the government IL
selling or leasing water power devei
oped by it's own works should not at
! tempt to exercise any powers OF SOW
ereignty over the lessee in fits deal.
ings with the consumers and the pub.
: lie. It should permit the states within
which the utility exists to regulate the