Evening star., 1913-11-19
REPORTS ON POLICY
STIR UP QUARRELS
Continued from First Page.)

was tumultuously applauded by the con
gress when he declared:
II have never been impressed with
the idea that down here in Washington
YOU can control water powers or any
thing else as we'll as we can in our own
states.
In an address dealing principally with
the rights of the states in the controversy
he declared there will never be any
danger of monopolistic control of water
powers because, under the United States
statutes. the transmission or electricity
between the states makes the companies
transmitting such power common car
riers subject to the interstate commerce
act. and the federal government has as
much right to fix their rates as 1T has
those of railroads.
Senator Thomas of Colorado also urged
that water power franchises be granted
by the states. He advocated this not for
profit but for control.
Replying to Senator Shafroth. Henry
L. Stimson declared that in the sug-
gestions of the minority the federal gov
ernment should not seek to thrust in in
advance of state authorities. but, he de-
clared, there are many cases where
local control cannot be exercised in which
federal control can be-
Senator Burton said. in part:
There is available in the United States
30. .OOOOO0 horsepower from water which
can be readily developed. BY the control
of stream flow, construction OF reservoirs
and invention of means for equalizing the
ma aximum and minimum flow of water In
rivers, the difference between which
forms one of the greatest disadvantages
in prospective water power development,
an additional quantity, probably lao.
O0n,O00 to 20OOO0.O 0.O0O could be utilized.
The former quantity OF 3O,OOOOOO horse
power should be brought Immediately
into use: the latter quantity, 150.OOOOO0
to GO,O00ON. is resource of limitless
value for the future. 1t is clear that
water power will eventually become an
industry of greater magnitude than any
yet developed 1t will become funda-
mental to all operations of manufacture
or transportation which depend upon
power for their operation and success.
Greatest Embarrassment.
The greatest embarrassment has been
the conflict between opposing ideas re-
garding national and state control. The
differences which arise from these separ-
ate jurisdictions are In some particulars
of the most vital Importance, but no petty
squa bible arising from theoretical ideals
about state and federal rights should
interfere with the prompt and orderly
utilization of this invaluable resource.
In non-essentials concessions should be
made In essentials certain principles
should be sedulousIy niaihtaifIed = Ii
which power from single source can be
used this problem is necessarily a ma
tional one There is no form of enter
prise which lends itself SO naturally to
consolidation and large scale operations.
lin the first place. the cost Of installa-
ton and transmission is minimized by
the control of one company or AFFILIATED
organizations. Oftentimes In one water
shed there may be an abundant rainfall
and consequently sufficient supply OF
power not merely for that area but for
others, while at the same time there will
be a drought elsewhere. III. however.
there Is such consolidation il should be
under the strictest supervision and con-
troll In most cases 1t is impossible to ex-
ercise such control under laws and regu-
lations framed by single state.
The national phase Of the question Is
further emphasized by the fact that the
upon public lands or else transmission
lines must cross the public domain: and,
still further. by the Incidental develop
ment Of power in navigable streams which
must be under federal control.
Compensation Question.
THE question of compensation to the
government has been very much dis
cussed. In principle such compensation
Is fair. In the public lands streams
which produce power are often closel,
associated Win lOrcStS. Inc ndtlOna
forests are patroiled and cared for at
very great expense. In navigable
streams the same rule which require,
the grantee of a franchise to construc,
| a lock and dam as a condition for en-.
joying IA franchise would equitably bt
applied to compensation for other i'm
provements in the stream. At the same
time ii is not intended by the advocate.
of compensation that 1t shall be OF
sufficient amount to impose any .eriou,
burden upon industry. In the practica
application Of the rule it would op
crate especially as check on inor
dinate profits
THE only way to gain benefits from
our water power resources Is to develoI
them. We are now deadlocked. The
| friends of the conservation movement II
Congress are strong enough to defeat the
| efforts of those who seek to put through
1 the unlimited grants of former days. Or
l the other hand. those who believe tha
| Congress ought to continue an obsolete
| policy strong enough to prevent th'
! enactment of constructive legislation
/ Water power Is now the one great asse
| of the nation which is running to waste
and whose value will not be diminished
/ by use