The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-26
AGAINST PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
WATER POWER RIGHTS SHOULD
NEVER BE REMOVED FROM
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
Conservation Congress Calls for
Policy of Firm Opposition to Mo-
nOpOlistic Grasp.

Washington, Nov. 20.-Monopolistic
control of water power in private
hands today was denounced by the
National Conservation congress which
adjourned here late today. Accom-
panying this denunciation was a dec
laration that no water power rights
owned by the public ever should be
removed from public ownership.
The climax Of the water power
fight, which had agitated the congress
for several days, came after the COM
mitee on resolutions to which had
been referred divergent reports from
the waterways committee submitted
that the matter had been taken from
it's hands yesterday by action of the
convention in adopting general prin-
ciples upon which the waterways COM
mittee agreed. No mention of the
majority or minority reports, which
differed as to State and feacral con-
troll of water power projects, was
made in the resolutions committees
repor.
When the report had been read
Clifford PinchOt, former chief forester
of the United States, moved as all
amendment, a declaration Of princi-
pies on waterway control similar to
the ideas in the minority report sign
ed by himself, II. l.. Stimson, former
secretary Of war. and Joseph N. Teal
Of Oregon. His amendment was adopt
ed by vote Of 317 to So.
The Pinchot amendment declared
that monopolistic control Of water
power in private hands was swiftly
increasing in the United States. far
more rapidly than public control
thereof" that increasing "concentra-
ton Of water power in some hands"
was accompanied by growing control
over the power consuming agencies,
the public service companies Of the
country. It continued:
Whereas. the concentration. if fos-
tered as in the past by outright grants
OF public powers in perpetuity, inevi-
tably will result in a highly monopo-
listic control Of mechanical power, one
Of the bases Of modern civilization
and q prime factor in the cost Of liv-
ing;
Therefore, be it resolved, That
we recognize the firm and effective
public control Of water power cor
porations as a pressing and immedi-
ate necessity. urgently required in the
public interest, that we recognize
there is no restraint so complete, ef-
fective, and permanent as that which
comes from firmly intrenched owner
ship OF the power sites and that it is
the solemn judgment of the fifth Ma
tiOnal Conservation congress that
hereafter no waterpower now owned
or controlled by the public should be
sold, granted or given away in per-
petuity, or in any manner removed
from the public ownership. which
alone can give sound basis Of assured
and permanent control in the interest
Of the people,"
When this resolution had been
read efforts were Intellectually made to
rule it out Of order and Representa-
tive Burnett moved to amend it by
inserting State control" whenever
public control appeared. It was
upon these motions that the conven-
tion was brought to stormy climax
and at one time some of Mr. Pinchot' s
friends. including the president Of the
congress, urged him to consent to an
amendment. Motions to adjourn were
made before the final roll calls, but
were hOoted down by the convention.
The congress elected Charles La
throp Pack Of Lakewood, n. j., as
president to succeed himself.
Efforts Of the Arkansas delegation
headed by Col. Walter Powell of Lit
tie Rock. which bolted the congress,
to spread the revolt today failed. but
another effort to get other delegates
to meet with those from Arkansas will
be made tomorrow. Il there is any
response 10 the Arkansas appeal plans
for another conservation congress will
be made. Most of the delegates. how
ever, left Washington tonight.