The Washington times., 1912-12-29
WILL sink PARTY
LINES IN FIGHT ON
POWER GRAB BILLS
Friends of Taft and Pinchot
to Stand Together in Con-
servation Effort.

Party lines and political differences
Will be forgotten in . fght for and
against several water power grab
bills which will come before Congress
Immediately after the members con-
vene In the new year.
Friends Of both President Taft and
clifford Pinchot will line up and heht
side by side in the same ranks with
Republican and Democratic progress
sives and members Of the new Pro-
1ressive party to combat the threat
ened effert which will be made to put
through special water power iegisla-
uon said not to be In accord either
with the conservation policies of the
present or, Of the Roosevelt Admins
tration or with the ideas Of President
elect Wilson. One Of the most i'm
portant measures which advocates Of
conservation will have to fight will
Do the bill giving to the S30.000.O00
corporation . grant to develop power
on the Coosa river in Alabama, passed
At the last session through q combi-
nation Of reactionary Democrats and
Republicans in both the House and
senate, and vetoed by President Taft
In the closing days Of Congress.
Gives Valuable Resource.
Il am not surprised to know that
the reactionary members Of the House
ana Senate will attempt to override
President Taft's veto Of the Coosa
river water power BILL" said clifford
Pinchot today. zone thing 10 always
certain: the special interests never
give up their attempts to acquire
valuable privileges. The Coosa river
dan bill 10 bad because It gives away
. most valuable resource without one
cent Of compensation to the people.
Il agree with Secretary stimson that
the amendments which he suggested
should be made to this bill. While
the bill was still before Congress last
yea contended that the Secretary Of
War should be authorized to impose q
reasonable rental charge for the privi-
rived from this charge should be used
Tor stream development. In fixing this
cherfe due allowance should be made
Tor nxed and operating expenses. main
tenance charges. depreciation and rea-
soneoie return on the capital invested.
Second. the Federal Government should
reserve the right to control the CHARGES
for service made to the consumer in
the event that the States or the cities
protect the public interests.
Underwood Favors Bill.
THE way this bill was passed is Of
more than passing Significance. Politi.
cal lines were wiped away entirely in
both the opposition and support Of the
measure. In spite Of determined opposi.
ton from men who were trying to pro-
tect the public interests. men like sena.
tors Poindexter Of Washington and Bur
ton OF Ohio. and Congressmen like
Ratney and Foster Of Illinois. and
Humphrey Of Mississippi. and Sherley of
Kentucky. the bill was passed. It ought
never to be passed again."
Oscar Underwood. the Democratic
leader in Congress. is one of the
strongest supporters Of the bill and he
and his friends will try to nut n
through II possible before the beginning
OF the Wilson Administration. They
think there will be 4 good chance to
get the combined support Of ali Of the
conservative Democrats and most Of the
rsactionary and disgruntled Republicans
IN the effort to further humiiiate Presi-
dent TAFT. If the bill does not 70
through during the present Administra.
ton It Is safe to say that It is killed.
or. II reintroduced again, that II will
be In form to protect both the Gov.
ernment. which controls the stream, and
the consumer. who will use the power.