The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-01
POWER DEVELOPMENT.

A bin was introduced by United
States Senator Jones of Washington on
February 7, entitled "a bill to aid and
regulate the development, operation,
and maintenance Of water powers on
lands OF the United States, and for
other purposes. It provides for the
fling Of plans and specifications with
the secretary Of the department havin e
jurisdiction, which "shall be approved
by such secretary if it appears to him
that the proposed development will pro-
mote the highest and greatest practic-
able use Of the water resources In
volved''; that within ninety days after
such approval the grantee and the sec
retary shall agree upon the then fair
market value Of the lands proposed to
be occupied, or upon their failure to
agree that the grantee may institute
proceedings in the United States dis
trict court to have such value deter
mined; that the grantee shall have the
right to occupy such lands for a period
of fifty years, and thereafter until COM
pensation has been made to the grantee
for the fair value of its property; that
the grantee shall pay annually in ad-
vance per centum of the value of
the land so determined, that, after the
expiration of fifty years, congress may
terminate this right of occupancy and
provide for the taking over by the
= United States, or by any state or mu-
nicipality, of all OF the property of the
grantee dependent for its usefulness
upon the rights granted by the govern
ment, including the assumption Of con-
tracts entered into by the grantee;
that the grantee shall commence con-
struction of the projects within two
years from the date OF agreement or
final adjudication as to the value Of the
land occupied, prosecute such work with
due diligence. and complete and put in
operation within five years such part
thereof as the secretary may deem nee
essary, and such other parts as the
secretary may thereafter from time to
time determine; that rates and service
shall be subject TO the control of the
respective states having jurisdiction,
the United States rcserving the right
10 regulate the same If the business
Of grautce should become interstate, or
if the states fail to regulate such rates
or service; that the rights granted shall
iuure TO the benefit Of any state, mu-
:, nlcipality, or public service corpora
: ton, now constructing Or operating such
works, upon compliance with the terms
and provisions OF the act; that all
Nater-power reserves shall be open 10
location, settlement, entry and disposal
tHN oPPAOPii6lS DuDllG lduu IL W.
subject TO the dominant use for water
power purposes, aud finally section 8
OF the bill contains An antitrust pro.
vision which is both interstate and in.
tgsstate.
Laying aside any question concerning
the reserved powers OF the states to
control the appropriation and use OF
their waters for all beneficial purposes
except navigation, without let or him
drance from the federal government,
the bill is, perhaps, the most rational
proposition which has been presented
on the subject, within recent years. in
the national legislature.
The charge of ) per cent of the value
OF the land occupied will not be a Sc
rious burden or detrimeut 10 develop.
ment. The land involved would be of
course, unsold and unoccupied public do
man, OF very little value But what
ever charge IS made by the federal gov.
crnment must necessarily be a part Of
the cost or operation, an element OF the
cost OF production, and must enter into
the prlee to be paid by the consumer.
4 1t should also be borne in mind that
tho charge is made for an easement or
right OF way over the public land when
the water power is used for the genera
, tion and Transmission of electric cur.
rent, aud that the right TO charge for
this purpose involves the right 10
charge when the water is used for any
other beneficial purposes. 1t also stands
To reason that if the present congress
may hx the charge at per centum.
some future congress may raise or
lover y; and extend it 10 cases where
the water II used for irrigation. min.