The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-16
- The Children Are Counting
the Days. Are You Going to
Disappoint Them by Failing
to Get Those Presents?
Get Them NOW.
SECRETARY FISHER
URGES FINAL POLICY
Regarding Water-power for Streams In
the Public Domain and Navigable
Streams Not In Public Domain.
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Washington, Dec. l6--A definite and
comprehensive water-power policy fol
streams upon the public domain and
navigable streams not in the public do
main, is urged by the Secretary OF the
Interior Walter i. Fisher, as the most
important subject pending before Con-
gress and the country in his annual
report submitted yesterday to President
Taft.
Other legislation which Secretary
| Fisher recommends as important to the
welfare Of the country embodies al,
enlarged application Of the leasing
principle as applied to the public domain
in general; comprehensive leasing law
for coal, oil and other mineral lands;
and laws providing for the classified
ton of public lands according to their
respective characteristics and appropri-
ate uses and administration in accord
ance Herewith. Secretary Fisher also
declares in favor of legislation for the
development of the transportation fa-
cilities and the coal lands of Alaska,
and for the withdrawal from entry Of
public land in the west needed to con-
serve the water supply at the sources
of streams. He recommends the retire
ment and pensioning of the civil EN-
ployes of the government. Most of his
recommendations are in renewal and
emphasis OF those made in his previous
annual report
As to water power policy, he says
that il must be made certain that
those who receive special privileges con-
nected with water-power development
shall in fact proceed by appropriate de-
grees and within appropriate times to
develop the available water-power to
its highest capacity, having due regard
to the possibilities of marketing the
product.
s'We must make certain he contin-
ues, "that the electric energy thus ere
ated shall be made available to the
in appropriate ways at APP
propriate prices. If it is not to be for |
the benefit of the community but is
to be. devoted directly to the private |
purposes and personal advantage of the
permitee, some methods must be found |
BY which the public will receive its
share Of the profits which the permitee
may make over and above that which
Is necessary and reasonable induce
nent for his investment"
The present law. he asserts, neither
promotes development nor protects the
public interest in an effective manner"
ind he attributes this principally to
he fact that permit is "revocable at
my time and without specific reason"
lie calls it serious and unjustifable
obstacle to the development and utiliza-
ion of one Of the nations greatest nat
lral resources" He declares that con-
itions and limitations should be defined ,
" statute on which permits should be
ssued. and only for breach of which
hey should be cancelled. /,
As to federal as against state con- !
rol of water-power concessions on !
treams which are not navigable, the I;
ecretary says: "The suggestion is !
nade frequently by those who are in j
ne way or another representing either !
resent or future investment in water
over development that such power
ties and their control chould be turned
yer to the respective states in which =
hey are located. Ii is interesting to
ote, however, that the ordinary ct-
ems of these states are not at all con-
srned over federal usurpation of unjust il
-eatment. w