The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-09
Would Resist Plan of Fed eral Government to Levy
 Tolls on Water Power
ALSO WANTS STATE
 CONNECTS ON ROADS
State Senator Says if Legislature Is Called Together He Will Intro duce Bills Bearing on Both
 of These Subjects

Two bills, one providing for the removal of state convicts from the mines and their subsequent employment on the roads, and the other containing declaration that the water power of the state is the property of the state, and instruct ing the attorney general to resist any attempt that might be made by the uni- ted States government to charge toll in proportion to the amount of power developed and sold, will be introduced in the legislature by Cecil A. Beasiey. senator from Fayette county.
 Senator Beasley, who was active in the campaign of Oscar W. Underwood when that congressman was candi- date for the democratic nomination for the presidency returned from Washing ton last night. He will go to Fayette this morning That Congress would hard ly adjourn prior to August 20 or Sep tember l was practically all the news he brought from the capital.
 Conyicts on Roads
 Senator Beasley is not anxious for an extraordinary session, but declares that if the lawmakers are called together he  which will be the ones referred to above. He is heartily in favor of taking the eonvicts from the mines and building with their labor good roads in every county of the state He holds that the only argument the state has in support of the present custom of hiring con yicts to corporations is that the state reaps vast benefits in financial returns.
 That is a very weak argument" he declared, perhaps the very weakest. The state has no right, as I hold 1t, to make money in return for convict labor" 7 If it should require an amendment to the constitution to remove the convicts from the mines, Senator Beasley feels certain that such an amendment would be carried by the votes of the people.
 Problem of Water Power
 He is perhaps more interested in his embryonic bill in reference to the water ways Of Alabama than in any other. however.
 Alabama" he stated last night. "has enormous latent water power, and with in the next few years that power will be developed. It is sufficient to operate all the machinery of the state and suf- fleient to furnish light for the entire south.
 "The government, it is apparent, in- tends to take charge of the water power of the states. This was shown in the recent action of the President when he vetoed a bill for the improvement of White river in Arkansas, chiefly for the reason that no provision was contained as result Of which the government could exact it's toll.
 To Fight the Government
 "It is certain that waterways are owned by the states or the people of the states, and the government has no right in re- turn for whatever improvement 1t might have made, to assume charge of that property. Should this course be pursued and the companies developing the power in Alabama be compelled to pay a heavy toll to the government and later collect it in return from the people, we would not obtain the cheap facilities that we otherwise would.
 ''I will endeayor to have passed joint resolution declaring simply that the rivers of the state are property of the state and will then introduce bill instructing the attorney general to bring suit against the government whenever the government attempts to exact fee toll or any other remuneration or financial return"
 State Rights Again
 That the old question of states rights will be resurrected as a result of the bill the senator knows. He is willing that the problem be revived, willing on account of his belief that the water pow CT of the state is one of it's most valu- able assets and his profound belief that that power will be soon developed.
 He stated that he knew of an English syndicate which is desirous of spending d vast sum of money in developing the coosa river, and as is generally known. there are other gigantic schemes on foot as a result of which other latent water power will be harnessed.
 As a result of his bill Senator Beas- ley is. hopeful of providing against any handicap that might in the future be de- veloped.