The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-16
REPORT OF FISHER

Washington, Dec. 16.-A definite
and comprehensive water-power policy
Tor streams upon the public domain
I'M naElgable streams not on the puE-
lie domain, is urged by the Secretary
OF the Interior Walter L. Fisher, as the
most important subject pending before
congress and the country. in his an
nuai report submitted to President
Taft.
Other legislation which Secretary
Fisher recommends as important to
the welfare of the country embodies
an enlarged application of the leasing
principle as applied to the public
domain in general; a comprehensive
leasing law for coal, oil and other
mineral lands; and laws providing for
the classification of public lands ac-
cording to their respective character
istic and appropriate uses and adj
min1stration in accordance Herewith.
Secretary Fisher also declares in favor
Of legislation for the development OF
the transportation facilities and the
coal lands of Alaska, and for the with
drawal from entry of public lands in
the west needed to conserve the water
supply at the sources of streams. He
recommends the retirement and PEN
sioning of the civil employees of the
government. Most of his recon-
mendations are in renewal and
emphasis of those made in his previous
annual report.
AS to a water-power policy, he says
that it must be made certain that
those who receive special privileges
connected with .water-power Develop
fnent shall in fact proceed by ap-
preparation degrees and within APP
propriate times to develop the avail
able water-power to it's highest ca
pacity, having U regard to the pos-
sibilities of marketing. the product
I'VE must make certain he con-
tinues, that the electric energy thus
created shall be made available to the
community in appropriate ways at APP
propriate prices. If it Is not to be-
used for the benefit of the community
but is to De devoted directly TO the
private purposes and personal adj
yantages of the permfttee, some
method must be found by which tho
public will receive it's share of the
/ profits which the permittee may make
over and above that which is a neces-
sary and reasonable inducement for
his investment"
The present law, he asserts,
neither promotes development nor
protects the public interest in an eff
fective manner" and he attributes this
principally to the fact that a permit
is "revocable at any time and without
specific reason" He calls it a serious
and unjustifable obstacle to the
development and utilization OF one of
the nations greatest natural re-
sources" He declares that conditions
and limitations should be defined by
statute on which permits should be
issued, and only for breach of which
they should be cancelled.
AS to federal as against state control
of water-power concessions on streams
which are not navigable, the secretary
says: THE suggestion is made FREE
quently by those who are in one way
or another representing either present
or future investment in water-power
development that such power sites
and their control should be turned over
to the respective states in which they
are located. 1t is interesting to note.
however, that the ordinary citizens of
these states are not at all concerned
over federal usurpation or unjust
treatment"