South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-21
CONGRESS VOTES
To KEEP POWER
FOR PUBLIC USE
Resolution Against Disposal of
Water Rights to Operating
Companies is Passed in
Washington Session.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 21.-Monopo-
listic control Of water power in pri-
Vate hands was denounced with a
declaration that no water rights own
Cd by the public ever should be re-
moved from public ownership, by the
National Conservation congress which
adjourned here late Thursday.
The climax Of the water power
fight which has agitated the congress
for several days came after the com
mittee on resolutions TO which had
been referred divergent reports from
the waterways committee, submitted
that the matter had been taken from
its hands by action Of the convention
Wednesday in adopting general prin-
ciples upon which the waterways com
mittee agreed. No mention Of the
majority or minority reports which
differed as 10 stare and federal con-
troll Of water power projects was made
in the resolutions committees report
to the convention.
When the report had been read,
Clifford PinchOt, former chief forester
of the United States and father of
the minority waterways report in the
congress. moved as an amendment to
the resolutions report a declaration Of
principles on waterway control, sim
liar to the ideas in the minority re-
port signed by himself, former Secy.
Of War Henry l.. StimsOn and Joseph
y. Teal Of Oregon.
Adopt Amendment
This amendment was adopted by n
vote of 81 to 96 after one offered by
Rep. Burnell OF Alabama, which in
jected into the resolution the matter
of state control of waterway projects,
had been defeated 37S to 1872.
The PinchOt amendment. approved
after a stormy session during which
repeated attempts were made to adj
jOurn by some southern and western
delegates, 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 increas-
ing concentration of water power in
some hands," was accompanied by
growing control over the water con-
Stunning agencies, the public service
Companies OF the country.
1t continued Whereas. This con-
centratiOn, if fostered, as in the past,
by outright grants Of public powers in
perpetuity will inevitably result in
highly monOpolislic control OF me-
chanical power, one OF the bases of
modern civilization. and a prime lea
ture in the cost Of living.
Would Keep Rights.
Therefore, be ii resolved, That we
recognize the firm and effective opin-
ION or water power operations as a
pressing and immediate necessity ur-
gently required in the public interest
that we recognize there is no restraint
so complete, effective and permanent
as that which comes from firmly in
trenched public ownership of the
power; and that ii is the solemn judg
ment of the Fifth National Conserva-
ton congress that hereafter no water
power now owned or controlled by
the public should be sold, granted
given away in perpetuity or in any
manner removed from the public own
ership, which alone can give sound
basis of assured and permanent con-
troll in the interest of the people"
When this resolution had been read
efforts were Intellectually made TO
rule ii out Of order. and Representa-
tive Burnett moved to amend il by in
serting state control" wherever
public control appeared. 1t was
upon these motions that the cOnven-
ton was brought to a stormy climax
and at one time some of Mr.. Pinchot's
friends including the president of the
congress. urged him to consent to an
adjournment. Motions to adjourn
were made before the final roll calls,
but were hooted down by the conven-
ton.
The congress elected Charles
IathrOp Pack Of Lakewood. y. J.. as
president to succeed himself; EmmOns
Cooker Fitchburg. Mass. vice presi-
dent: y. G. McLoud. Washington, d.
C, recording secretary; DR.. Henry s.
Drinker. South bethlehem, Pa, treas
urer. and Thomas F. Shipp, Indianap-
oils. corresponding secretary.