Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-02-20
CONSERVATION POLICY OF
SEC'Y GARRISON ENDORSED
BY WILSON AND CABINET.
Claiming Power of the Government to Con-
troll Building of WaterpoWer Projects
"Details Are to Be Made Public
In Letter from Secretary.

Washington. Feb. 19.-Assertion of
the power of the federal government
under the Constitution to control the
building of all water power projects.
but recognition at the same time OF
the equities therein of the states-this
is the cardinal principle in the conser-
walton policy of the Wilson admins
tration so far as 1t affects the navig-
able streams of the country.
Secretary Garrison of the war de-
partment is the author of the plan,
which has been endorsed by President
Wilson and the cabinet. It's details
will be made public in the form of a
letter from the secretary to Chairman
Adamson of the House committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, when
the latter returns to Washington and
is consulted by Mr.. Garrison.
Through it's policy the administra
ton hopes to end the controversy that
has been agitated for the last few
years between the supporters 'of the
doctrine of state rights and the adj
vocates of strict national regulation in
conservation. In substance, Congress
would be asked to pass legislation au-
permits for the construction of water
power projects such permits to be is
sued only in what might be deemed
proper cases by the war department.
Permits then would be given only to
concerns that are Incorporated as pub
lie utilities under state laws to safe
guard the interests of the public from
Determinations, monopolies and other
evils which such statutes throughout
the nation generally aim to prevent.
Returns in rental or tolls would go
to the states.
Mr.. Garrison does not believe there is
any question about the legal right of the
federal Observation-Disclosures the consti-
tutional power of regulating the COM
merce of the national in navigable
streams-to exercise Jurisdiction over the
construction of water power projects. Nu-
merous decisions of the supreme court of
the United States. he holds. make the
right of the federal government perfect
" clear But what President Wilson and
his administration desire is that, having
disposed of the question of legal right
the navigable streams shall be used to
meet the abiding interest of the communi-
ties and states mutually affected.
From this view may be read the prin-
ciples which, 1t ish expected, will underlie
solution of many of the knotty prob
lens of conservation. Cooperation be-
tween the federal and state governments
for the benefit of the people of the nation
at large is the fundamental point in the
administration policy.
Secretary Garrison is confident that the
policy, when worked out, will not be
abused In any way by the states as has
often been charged by advocates of strict
national regulation. BY giving permits
only to concerns that are public utilities,
duly incorporated as such, the projects
are brought under the immediate super
vision of state public utilities commits
sions. but states whose laws governing
public utilities are Inadequate and do not
protect the public from practices of mon
opoly and discrimination, would not be
the recipients of federal permits. water
mower rights would be withheld. it isun-
derstood, until such states passed laws
conforming to the ideas of the federal
government on what are proper safe
guards.
Secretary Garrison has been study
ing the problem for nearly year. Not
until the cabinet meeting of last Tues
day, however, did he present his con-
illusions.
In connection with the proposed en-
actment of the Roanoke River bill
now on the Senate calendar. Clifford
Pinchot has issued a statement at