The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-26
,,,;nols congressman 90 Characterised
keokuk project in His Attack Of
Adamson's Bill to Reou-
late Companies.
IN VIOLATION OF Law
representative Says That Dam Fall
ed to cheapsn Power and Has
lmpeded the Navl-
cation.

CONGRESSMAN Rainey OF Carrolton,
III and Representative William G..
Adamson, chairman OF the committee
on interstate and foreign commerce,
debated at some length on the floor
Friday the Adamson water power
regulation bill. Rainey as usual at
tackled the Keokuk power project,
claiming that It was operated in VIC
lation OF the United States laws. and
holding the Keokuk project as ''hor-
rlble example" of what he prophesied
would happen without what ne term.
ed proper governmental control.
The following is taken from the
ST. Louis Republic Of yesterday morn
ing, and is written under a Washing
ton cate line by WI. Cochran, staff
man for the Republic:
Criticism and defense Of the dam
across the Mississippi river at Keo-
kuk, Iowa, which supplies light and
motive power in st. Louis, cropped
out in the house today during the
general debate on the pending Adam
son water-power regulation bill.
The bill is claimed by its author
Representative William G. Adamson
Of Georgia, chairman OF the commit
tee on interstate and foreign COM
merce-to be an administration meas
ure. 1t provides for the leasing of
water-power rights for fifty-year per-
iods, revocable on order of the secre-
tary Of war for violation Of lease
terms or in the event the site Is
wanted for government purposes.
Among other things claimed for the
bill, Mr. Adamson asserts Its provis-
Ions insure regulative control by the
government over the Ke0kuk project.
This latter feature was one OF the
( points Of dispute In colloquy be-
!. tween the chairman and Representa-
II tive Henry T. Rainey OF Illinois, who
announced opposition to the measure
Ralney Wants supsrvIsory Board.
Mr. Rainey proposed hydroelectric
commission with powers analogous
to the interstate commerce commits
sion and similar to boards of control
over water power in foreign countries
He argued in favor Of government
supervision, maintaining that there is
not anything in our rivers that is not
Interstate
The pending bill, Mr.. Rainey assert
ed. does not establish definite pol
icy, but merely postpones agitation in
this country. He also declared the
measure would not attract capital to
the rivers.
General debate on the bill was con.
Guided just before adjournment. It
will again have the call in the house
tomorrow. with speeches limited un.
der the nve-minute rule.
The greater part OF Rainey's ad-
dress of more than an hour was de-
voted to attacking the Keokuk dam.
It's method Of operation and financial
control. Generally he criticised the
pending bill as in no sense conser-
vation measure. but drafted in the
Interest Of capitalists"
Project q "HorribIe Example"
1T was framed he said. upon the
testimony OF Hugh Cooper the engi-
neer who promoted and built the Reo-
kuk dam, and J.. w. Shefield Of Ala
oama, the greatest water-power mag
Mates of this country, interested only
IN the capitalistic side OF the ques-
ton
He held up the Keokuk project as
horrible example, and said devel-
opments had confirmed his prophecy
years ago Of what would happen be-
cause Of the lack Of q policy in refer
ence to water power.
He attacked the manner in which
the company was organized, charged
mat the dam Is operated in violation
OF state and federal laws. and declar-
ed that to facilitate capitalization,