The Washington times., 1913-11-18
INTERESTS PACK
MEETING, IT IS SAID
Water Power Monopoly Is
Accused BY Delegates to
Congress Here.
= Continued from First Page)
L. Alexander. of Louisiana, were he'll
after the morning recess.

after the morning recess.
Afternoon Session. =
When the afternoon session opened it
was with the probability of a session
lasting until after o'clock, due to
the deadlock in the water-power commit
tee. That this report will precipitate a
fight that will be carried over until
tomorrow's session. with the danger
of causing a wide breach in the con-
Sress was freely predicted as the COM
0tttee deadlock continued.
The conservationists on the committee
are backing Clifford Pinchot in his fight
for report favoring the utmost regu-
letfon of water power enterprises and
the granting of only limited franchises
which will always assure that the peo-
pie who own these resources will retain
control of them
The anti-conversationists, who repre-
sent the views of the water-power
combination, favor long-term fran
chises, which, it is declared, would
amount to perpetual franchises, and the
minimum of Government regulation and
control
Between these two factions the fight
is waging today, and the fight will wage
when it goes to the floor, for the anti
regulationists are said TO have obtained
the appointment of hundreds of dele
gates representing their views.
The Pinchot faction is fighting for a
water-power report which will form
the basis of a definite policy of future
water-power regulation. But fears are
expressed that the fight will not end
with the committee on water power,
or with the Conservation Congress- but
viii be carried TO Congress next winter.
President Page reviewed the four con-
eressss previously held. dating from the
White House conference of governors
in 1905. those at Seattle. st. Paul. Kan
sas City and Indianapolis.
This year." he SAID, I'VE return to
the seat of Government and to forestry
and water power, where we can anew
with which the conservation movement
found its birth and its first develop
ment.''
Let me emphasize the statement that
the growth of conservation has been
coincident with the growth of proper
i utilization of these resources Presi-
dent Page continued Conservation and
/. utilization are Synonymous. They can
not be divorced.
Hope Of Enemies.
Our enemies would like to make II
appear that conservation means re-
servation, and the locking up of re-
sources for the benefit of future gen.
crations at the expense of the present.
We know that this is not true. We
know that without proper utilization
there can be no conservation worthy of
the name. We know that perpetuation
can be best achieved by present use
along scientific lines. and 1t is to this
policy that we stand committed. 1t is
a policy which might be protected by
constant vigilence-fought for when
necessary
Mr.. pack declared that phase of the
combat arises from the ''insistence
with which some interests strive to
make 1t appear that there is popular
ciamor for State control of the great
Government properties in forest and
stream" The growth of conservation,
he said, did not, please everybody, and
ers ta the are old hoss ws Of nss wRare fsaedn
wasteful gain was the keynote. But he
urged the conservationists to spare no
effort to insure the complete defeat of
their efforts.
The United States was accorded the
credit for starting the conservation
movement in Canada by Hon. James
White, deputy head of the Conservation
Commission of the Dominion in an ad-
dress following the Presidents opening
remarks.
History In Canada.
.'In Canada" said Mr. White, the his
tory Of conservation dates from Presi-
dent Roosevelts letter of invitation of
December "a, 1905, to Join with the
United States in a North American con-
ference. The invitation was accepted,
and at conference held in Washing
ton In February, 1909, the representa-
tives OF the United States, Canada,
Mexico, and Newfoundland united in a
declaration of principles upon which the
conservation movement has been based"
Shortly afterward the Canadian house
of commons passed a law providing for
the appointment of a commission of
conservation. One Of the first results,
he said, was the passage of laws holding
the railroads liable for fires set by their
engines, and they may be sued for dam
ages caused by such fires whether they
were due to negligence or not. This re-
q,Iired the roads TO maintain flre-fght-
ing STATS and to patrol their lines and
adjoining lands. The companies. first
obiecting, soon found the regulations
beneficial, and protection to natural
resource that will be an increasing item
of revenue to the companies.
Recommendations have been made to
the various governments" Mr.. White
continued, urging the leasing of Wa
ter-powers for a definite period on con-
dition of prompt development and COM
pensation to the crown and control of
rates"