The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-02
LANE MUST FIGHT
WATER POWER MEASURE NOW
IN CONGRESS DOESN'T SUIT
coNsERvATIoNIsTs.
PROBABLY WILL BE PASSED
President Wilson May Veto lt--Advo-
Gates of Federal Control Say the
Compensation Is inadequate
and Misleading.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


terror Lane apparently will receive the
sanction of congress for all the con-
Eervation bills which he has recon-
mended with one exception, that which
concerns federal control of the water
power of the country. 1t is, of course,
possible that eventually the secretary
will win out in this matter, but at
present there seems to be a de-
ter1nined effort in congress to put
through water power measure which
will not satisfy the ardent advocates
of conservation.
Some years ago the National Con-
servation association outlined water
power policy which was given the in
dorsement of Theodore Roosevelt, who
then was president Of the United
States, and of the conservationists of
the country led by Clifford Pinchot.
With the change of a few details this
measure has been advocated by the
conservationists in congress, and out
of it ever since. Senators and
representatives have not been willing
to listen to the pleas of the conserva-
and while willing that some other con-
servation measures should go through,
they seemingly made up their minds
against such water power law as the
National Conservation association de-
sires to have passed.
When the Democrats secured CON
troll of the administration, the advo-
- g. t. oil
walton matters feared that under the
states rights doctrine the states would
be given all authority, and that the
people as whole would not get
proper returns for leases of the ma
tional resources, among which is wa
ter power. The conservation program
of the Democrats, however, has been
to a considerable extent to the liking
of the coHservationists, but in the
water power matter the advocates of
| federal control say that the Democrats
are not properly safeguarding the peo-
pies rights.
President Stands With Lane.
Secretary Lane always has been
| known as a conservationiSt and it
appears he and the president think the
present water power bill in congress
is not strong enough to secure to the
government, which means to the PEG
pie of the United States, all the re
turns which it should get from the
leasing of the power to private cor
porations.
The bill, which covers the whole
water power question it seems likely
will go through the house, for it is
understood that it has the backing OF
the house leaders. The measure has
been given a privileged status which
means that it will be debated early
and probably passed. 1t is believed
in Washington the president does not
think the bill is a good one and it is
virtually certain that it does not have
the support of the secretary of the In
terror
The senate, it is understood, is not
opposed to this bill, against which the
charge is made that it gives to watel
power corporations pretty nearly
everything that they ask. The conser
vationists say their hope lies in the
president of the United States, ant
they are quite sure their confidence
that he will veto the measure is moi
misplaced.
Compensation Clause Called Bad.
The conseryationists say the bill fol
general water power legislation seems
to be held generally by the country tt
be an excellent measure. This feel
ing arises, they say, from the reports
that have gone out that it contains
ample compensation to the federal gov
eminent for the use of the water
power. They urge a careful reading
of one section of the bill in order tina
people may make up their minds as tt
just what 1t does mean.
1t is section 4 of the bill to which
strong objection is made. 1t changes
existing law so as to provide "tha
the compensation required from the
owner Of the dam on account of bene
fits accruing because of headwatel
improvements, the erection of reser
voirs, etc, shall be collected to al
amount not exceeding 5 per cent PEI
annum upon the total investment cos
of such improvements to the United
States, in addition to the annual ex
penses Of maintenance of the headwa
ter improvement, all of which shall bs
divided among all the dams on the
stream receiving benefits from the in
creased flow, and shall be equitablJ
apportioned among all the benefici
aries"
The conservationists say that II
would seem from this perhaps thai
the government Is going to get a rea
return for its money, but they urge
that It does not mean this at all. As
they put it, the government not only
owns the improvements In the shape
OF reservoirs and other things which
1t has built, but it owns the right tc
the water powers Of the streams. q
right that has been sustained by the
Supreme court. The conservationists
point out in the measure now pending
the governments rights to the wetsi
powers themselves are not compen
stated for at all, and these powers, they
say, are much more valuable thar
ADcks and dams and other thirSx