Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-11-19
P|NCHOT WINS
WATERPOWER
fight
SUCCEEDS IN GETTING QUESTION
BEFORE NATIONAL CONSERVATION
CONGRESS, AND HAS MINORITY
REPORT ADOPTED AFTER LENGTHY
DEBATE.
STATE VS. NATIONAL
CONTROL IS ARGUED

| Washington, D. c., Nov. 19.-Gifford
iPinchot, former chief forester of the
United States leading champion OF
government control of waterpower
rights, scored in the national conser-
walton congress today when he sue
ceeded in forcing before the conven-
ton the minority report of the com
mittee on waterpower rights.
With former Secretary of the In
| tetrior Walter L. Fisher in the chair,
former Secretary of War Stimson,
who joined with Mr.. Pinchot in the
minority report yesterday moved for
suspension of the rules that the
waterpower question might be discus
sed from the floor. Scores of delegates
who favor the majority report, which
would combine national with state con-
troll with less restriction on water
power grants, protested.
Mr.. Fisher ruled that the motion
to suspend the rules was not debatable
and it was carried amid loud cheers.
Mr.. Pinchot read the minority report
and thereby opened the general de-
bate. Senator Burton of Ohio, cham.
pioned the policy of strict national
control of all waterpower rights and
urged the delegates not to get into
an ''unseemly squabble between state
rights and national control"
ut is impossible" said Senator Bur
ton, "that state control should ade-
quately solve this great national prob
lem. In this matter we are conduct
ling no crusade against capital, but
there must be recognition of the
danger of monopoly and a desire to
provide for public welfare in the use
of this great national asset
| Some delegates challenged the sig
nature of Jos. ~ Teal, of Portland
Oregon, to the minority report, assert,
ing that Teal had written a letter to
George F. Swain, chairman of the
'waterpower committee, expressing ap-
proval of the majority conclusions.
Prof. Swain told the convention that,
judging from the letter, he thought
that the majority had a right to claim
Teal. THE majority had perfect
right to take Teal with them at the
time that letter to Prof. Swain was
written returned Mr. Pinchot. "At
that time Mr.. Teal had not received
the report of the minority. I sent Mr.
Teal copy of our report and yester-
day received a telegram from him in
which he said
81 know you are right and I will
back you up
THAT message came to me several
days after Mr.. Teal's letter to Prof.
Swain"
Senator Shafroth vigorously defend
ed the views of the majority on the
waterpower question.
Senator Shafroth urged the dele
gates to heed the words of the late
Justice John M. Harlan, of the SUI
preme court, which he quoted:
National government for national
affairs; state government for state
affairs, and then there will follow a
development great. indeed That is
the rock on which our government is
founded"
Henry L. Stimson, replying, declared
that the federal government would
seek to thrust itself in advance of To-
cal authorities, but there were many
cases of which local control could
not be exercised in which federal con-
troll could.
Senator Thomas urged that water.
power franchises be granted by the
states, not for profit, but for control.