Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-16

~
s=s 1.-The government
= Washington, Dec. IA definite and
lsdE comprehensive water-power policy for
streams upon the public domain and
sn,s4 navigable streams not on the public
~ domain is urged by the Secretary of
tr,t5 the Interior, Walter L. Fisher as the
most important subject pending before
congress and the country, in his an
- ~ nual report submitted today to Presi
di haent Taft Other legislation which
itifs& Secretary Fisher recommends i'm
eta portant to the welfare of the coun-
5kis.e try embodies an enlarged application
as9iAiof the leasing principle applied to
ri the public domain in general; COM
saI prehensive leasing law for coal, oil and
+9ra other mineral lands; and laws provid-
J ing for the classification of public
ea lands according to their respective
@@7a characteristics and appropriate uses
3lf ana administration in accordance
ib79 Herewith. Secretary Fisher also de-
4tacIstres in favor of legislation for the
2.a9s development of the transportation ia
03i9 eilities and the coal lands Of Alaska,
li7t and for the withdrawal from entry of
f5ziS public lands in the West needed to
t5haf conserve the water supply at the
ssii1 sources of streams. He recommends
se% the retirement and pensioning of the
ts*af civil employees of the government.
zel Most of his recommendations are in
Asns renewal and emphasis of those made
Yin his previous annual report.
= 9 AS to a water-power policy, he says
~ that it must be made certain that
hs4 those who receive special privileges
o. connected with water-p power develop
~ nent shall in fact proceed by appro-
- pirate degrees and within appropriate
3s1's times to develop the available water
&C power to it's highest capacity, having
on due regard to the possibilities of mar
s aet keting the product
eas - I'VE must make certain" he con-
~ tlnues ~tlfat 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
hut is 10 be devoted direetlysto the pri-
waite purposes and personal advantage
-, of the permittee, some method must
'4tss sjpe found by which the public will re-
eeive it's share of the profits which the
pernittee may make over and abovd
'a.ii that which is a necessary and reason.
gisrsable inducement for his investment.
HsItss The present law, he asserts neither
ge.' promotes development nor protects the
gs.7 public interest in an effective man
Hlfiy ners and he attributes this principal
aeG. " to the fact that a permit is sreyo-
ca2 cable at any time and without specl-
ud fc reason" He calls it ay"serious and
e. unjustifable obstacle to the develop
,lsigl rnent and utilization of'one of the ma
rs TONS greatest natural resources" He
- declares that conditions and limita-
tons should be defined by statute on
slflia which permits should be issued, and
4 faonIv for breach of which they should
? s@1be cancelled.
- AS to federal as against state con-
SAT- troll of water-power concessions on
Ah streams which are not navigable, the
apI Secretary says; THE suggestion is
s1nade frequently by those who are in
st74t1one way or another representing either
present or future Investment in water
lsvs power development that such power
!rH ssitess and their control should be turn
}sef1sed over to the respective states in
40 which they are located II is interest
ing TO note however. that the ordi-
90 naryecitizens of these states are not
g89G 1T all concerned over federal usurpa-
tns0tion or unjust treatment
foD s'terhey suspect that the real purpose
u q Of these who urge the turning over of
atr the federal domain to the states is
sfss chat they may escape the longer and
poN fhe stronger arm of the federal gov
,iSn'2 eminent and may take advantage of
0st the more limited resources and gov
o. ernnental facilities of the individual
- states.
ssG aesWhiIe some states undoubtedly
IN have wisely conserved certain of
1.-the lands and natural resources
a7ay turned over to them by the Ma
ezrff6n the story has too often been the
Hisii ACQUISITION of these lands and re-
nasYosources by special interests or indivld-
fsltiials without adequate recognition OF
@ei the public interest. There is no policy
te.'s which it would be wise for any state
saw to adopt with respect to these matters
ss''i in the adoption and enforcement OF
which it cannot be supplemented and
assisted rather than retarded by the
retention in federal lands of the pow
- ers and the property now held by the
E.d, Nation. 1t is precisely this policy OF
ola. practical corporation which should be
E,44 put into effect. There is no real con-
~ fict betweencthe Nation and the states
sso upon the subject
44st,-4 I'm general all of the streams when
go, are susceptible of aterpower deVei-
IN, nasopnent are also of great importance
| i, .a-, for domestic use, for irrigation and fol