The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-25
WATER POWER
POLICY PRAISED
Philip P. Wells Commends
Secretary Lanes Federal
Conservation Attitude.
LEASE SYSTEM ASSURED
Water Power Sites Permanently to Be
Retained Under Federal
Control.

That Secretary Lanes announcement
Of his water power policy will strengthen
the advocates of the Federal conserva-
ton policy is the opinion of Phillip P.
Wells, trusted adviser in water power
matters of United States Forester Gif-
ford Pinchot, and Secretary of the In
terror Fisher under the Roosevelt and
spending the summer at his country
home in Connecticut, is in Washington
on a brief business trip.
Secretary Lanes announcement makes
it clear that the water power sites on
the public domain are to be permanently
retained in Federal ownership, and de-
veloped under Federal control by a per-
NIT or lease SYSTEM said Mr.. Wells
last night
This is the fundamental thing we
have been contending for since the
Forest Service initiated the new policy
in 1906. Reactionaries may take notice
that return to the old policy of grab,
either directly or by way of a cession
to the States, cannot be expected from
this administration. Secretary Lane is
quite right in emphasizing the benefits
Of the conservation policy to the con-
sumner. That has been its main purpose
from the beginning. What is now most
needed is legislation authorizing grants
for a fixed term of years, revocable
only for violation of their conditions or
Of the Secretary's regulations.
Garrison to Stand Firm.
From all that can learn it's a safe
guess that Secretary Garrison will stand
firm for Federal control Of water power
development in navigable streams, and
Secretary Houston for like control OF
water power sites in National Forests
Indeed II Is inconceIvapIe tnat ne snouId
do otherwise in view OF the fact that the
new policy had its birth in his depart
ment when the Forest Service stood up
alone against a host OF powerful enc
mics to start it and tight for II. The
fight, both as to the public lands and
navigable streams, has been war in all
three Executive departments. before the
Attorney General and in the courts, but
not yet in Congress"
The recent decisions of the Supreme
Court in the Chandler-Dunbar Water
Company case, and OF the United Statess
District Court at Salt Lake, should
convince all reasonable men that legal
objections TO the new policy are with
out merit and should clear the way of
the obstructionists who have for so many
years blocked the progress OF fair and
reasonable legislation on this subject.
III 'Ae HiSah'iibe nc II always iSLleih-
bered that there are no water power sites
in the public domain or in National
Forests withdrawn for development.
They are withdrawn for development
under the act OF 1901 and any applicant
who wishes to develop one may do so
subject, however, to Federal control
through Departmental regulation. The
sites on navigabIe streams on the other
hand are tied up in a Congressional dead
lock making development Impossible. 1t
is OF vital Importance to the Nation that
some key be found, either by Congress
or the Executive, TO open them to de-
velopment under Federal regulations ade-
quate to make sure that the benefits Will
go TO the people rather than to monop-
olistic exploiters."