The Washington times., 1912-07-30
.S|SSON ATTACKS
INNOCENT BILLS
ON WATER POWER
Congressman From Missis-
sippi Pointedly Replies
to Mondell.

The preliminary skirmish in the fight
over the increasing domain of the
Water power trust was staged in the
House late yesterday afternoon when
Congressman Sisson, progressive
Democrat, from Mississippi, in answer
to speech delivered by Congressman
Mondell, scored those innocent water
power propositions" contained In sev-
eral bills now pending in the House.
\ The great fight over the question Of
the conservation of natural resources
will come in the House later this week
when the omnibus dam bill, which Is
now on tie calendar. Is called up. The
conseryationists, following the expose
of the effects the passage Of such n
bill would have, are laying for' tho
measure.
Has No Water Power.
During the debate in the House late
yesterday on bills on the unanimous
consent calendar, Congressman sisson
said 1, part:
mot an ounce of coal is mined in my
district. I do not believe there Is an
ounce Of coal In my district. do not
believe there Is an ounce OF coal, cer-
tainly not an ounce that is mineable,
in the State which I represent In part.
believe my State has as little water
power to be developed as any State In
the Union. There are very few streams
there upon which water power can be
developed, but take no such narrow
view of this question that would he
willing for the Federal Government to
surrender its rights to corporations IN
the State of Colorado, in the State Of
Montana, in the State Of Arkansas, or
the great Carolinas or Virginia or Ter
nessee, where they have great water
power. I am unwilling that the State
should give a charter to an individual
or to corporation, and after the
rights raan Of that corporation shall have
individual shall have been established
that that right should be one which
could be sold another corporation en-.
gagged in the same lire Of industry.
II am unwilling as an American citi-
zen to see all of these resources
squandered. ! want them safeguarded
with the greatest care. My friend from
whether or not some gentlemen were
not influenced by some overweenine
power or influence outside of Congress-
which blinded their judgment.
Importuned By Lobbyists.
II want to say to my friend that there
Is just as much reason to say that the
minds and the hearts of people will bt
Influenced by these men who hans
around the Hobbies of this Capitol and
up in the galleries, asking men to vote
for these innocent water power propo
sitions when Congress shall not have
had an opportunity to know how much
Of value they are granting. Why, -art
they so anxious about It? find here
now numbers of gentlemen who are in
terested in asking me to vote for watel
power sites, but I have not found any
body that ever approached me askin,
me to vote against the bill.
Let all projects of water power b.
developed slowly. Have a law passed
a general law, providing that every maj
in the world who wants to bid on thi
water power can go on the open marke
and know what he Is doing. know wha
Is required Of him, and providing tina
every man may know the maximum
price that he may charge to the pub
lie for this water, Give every man a
opportunity but in Gods name. CIV
your own posterity, in this free re
public, give them all an equal chanc
and an equal opportunity. That is tn
highest duty that devolves upon a Con
gressman here, and let us put our hand
to the work."