The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-12

is there in great abundance. Capital was willing to make the investment, providing capital and the government could agree upon the terms of the distribution of the cost commensurate with the benefits to be derived to each. Great engineers passed upon the project as feasible; it would not only create the greatest water power in the world, but would also make Q great government stream nayigable for many miles and go a long way toward opening @ new avenue for the cheaper handling of commerce.
 Subject of Bitter Contest
 Nothing has been done. In the mean time we see that in Europe there has been invested and fostered by the governments over there, over 80, 600 in water power development for the manufacture of fer tilizers from the air alone. There are three factories in Germany, two in Nor way, two in Sweden, one in France, one in Switzerland, two in Italy, one in Aus tria, one in Canada, one in Japan, and none in the United States.
 Just what is wrong in the law, or in the way it has been interpreted, that this country has not obtained the develop ment which it's commercial importance, and the abundance of natural power available, should demand for it, is the subject of various opinions. Apparently the subject of regulation and control of
 
 plot the water powers of the country has been one obstacle. This has been acoentuated by the dual rights of the in diVidual states and the federal govern | ment, and the confusions arising out of ! the construction placed upon these rights | under the laws bearing upon the sub l ject. One thing however, Is sure, and | that is that foreign countries have solved I the problem of regulation so far as the corporations have been concerned, or at 1 least they have secured the development Of their resources, and are utilizing them for the benefit of the general public.
 Development in Europe
 No one yet knows in what form the new l general dam act will pass the House. It has been the subject of bitter contest not only before the committee, but now when it reaches the floor, 1t will be fought vigorously, and various amendments to it are to be suggested. There are many l members of Congress who desire to take from the states practically all of their l rights as to regulation and control and place the federal government in full charge with the right to not only levy q tax, but to terminate charters arbitrarily should the occasion demand. These peo- 1 pie desire to Conserve" the people S rights in the public property. They are not willing to trust the state govern ments, who in their anxiety for devel-
 
 to those who put up the money. There are others who, perhaps are as extreme in their views in the opposite direction. 1 They believe that it is the best policy to 1 get the development first, particularly as 1 every other country in the world is forg- ing ahead of us-get the development, let them spend the money and bring Us the results, and regulation and control will come as it came with the railroads. after they had established themselves and made themselves an influential part of the com merce of the country. The administrations view all along has been that of encouraging development of waterpower as much possible and to frame a new act, that will do so. Accord ing to Secretary Garrison, 1t is the desire of the administration that the new bill shall recognize the equitable sphere of each of those in interest" That is the federal government, the state, and capi- l tai. q conceive" writes the Secretary, "the equitable sphere of the government to be to see to 1t that this great public l utility, wherever avaled of, should be avsiled of in a way that will benefit the greatest number under the most favorable terms possible, and in doing so, recognize the justice of the state entity or sover- 1 eignity receiving a revenue from the op-