Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-10
ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN CONF.
DENT kEokuk DAM WILL
De INVESTIGATED.
INTERFERING DEVELOPMENTS
PROMISED IL CHARGES ARE TRUE
eevsrnmsnt Accused Of Giving Away
Rights Worth Millions Which Have
Fallen Int Hands Of spseuiators
Who Are Buying Up Small Power
Plants in Three States.
Especial correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence.
Washington, April 10.-Interesting
developments are promised if the house
committee on interstate commerce con-
ducts an investigation Of the workings
Of the Keokuk dam.
Representative Rainey, OF Illinois.
who recently introduced a resolution in
the house for such an investigation
was heard this week by the committee
on the resolution. While the committee
has not acted, the belief of Mr.. Rainey
Is that It will act favorahy. Unques-
tionably, n fraction of the charges
made by Mr. Rainey and others con-
cern1ng the dam and the companies
ton should be made. @ %
Charges Important il True.
Inc resolution provides for an in
auiry TO determine whether the act
granting the right to build the dam
ought to be repealed or altered or
amended 80 as to provide for adequate
compensation to the government and
also so as to provide for regulation Of
the cost Of electric power to con-
sumers. as we'll as for the proper oper-
alton of the dam and locks so that the
navigation Of the Mississippi river
shall not be hindered.
In series Of whereases, Mr.. Rainey
in his resolution sets forth the allega-.
tions concerning the failure of the dam
to meet expectations In his hearing
he amplified the charges and presented
evidence In support OF them. Congress
passed the act in 1905 granting to the
Keokuk and Hamilton Water Power
Company the right to build the dam
1t was represented building of the dam
would greatly aid navigation, that the
government would save large sum
In the annual cost of maintenance and
operation of the locks at the foot of
the Des Moines Rapids and that the
development Of power would be Of
great benefit 70 the neighborhood~ and
commercial manufacturing interests
The franchise was then assigned to the
Mississippi River Power Company and
that company completed the dam.
Rainey's Allegations.
Mr.. Rainey in his resolution makes
these allegations among others:
paifAA 1avigating said river that aAid
dansts q hindfance to navigation in
said river. and that steamboats, pro-
ceeding up said river are compelled to
await the pleasure Of the company
operating said dam and are sometimes
compelled toWait for hours below said
dam until the company sees fit to per-
nit sufficient amount of water to
run down from its pool down the river
to enable said boats to reach said dam.
ut is claimed that under some
agreement with the war department
said Mississippi River Power Company
is permitted to store water in the night
time in it's pool above said dam, there
by rendering unsafe and often impos-
sible the navigation in the night time
of the river for many miles below said
dam.
TT Is, claimed that said Mississippi
River Power Company and its sub
sidiary companies are now engaged in.
buying up electric light plants within
its sphere of operations in the states
of Illinois. Missouri, and 1oya, paying
therefor in many cases much more
than said properties are worth and
thereafter rendering less efficient SER
vice than was formerly rendered-de-
HidIOluS Iii0 SeSAAAS VI SAS0IOA SOHPCA0
sation therefor.
sit IS claimed that the development
Of water power at said dam has not
been Of great benefit to the immediate
neighborhood or to the commercial and
manufacturing interests Of the country,
on account Of poor service rendered by
said Mississippi River Power Company
and It's allied and subsidiary company;
and on account OF the excessive COM
pensation demanded by said company
and It's allied and subsidiary COM
panies. zsg
eft is claimed that IN defiance OF law
and without the permission Of the con-
gress said Mississippi River Power
Company, or some company operating
under its control. has built, or has in
part built, bridge across said river
at said point, thereby further obstruct-
ing the navigation OF said river,
mo compensation is provided for in
said act, and there has been no COM
pensation provided for up the present
time for the valuable privileges granted
by said act, other than the promise Of
said company to so construct and oper-
ate said dam and the locks connected
Herewith as to greatly aid navigation
ana as 70 1oe Of great benefit to the i'm
mediate neighborhood and to CONNER
cial and manufacturing interests Of the
country"