Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-02-25

think that II their party shah insist
upon legislation Of the kind outlined
Mr.. Wilson will veto it. even if in so
doing he must veto all of the anti
trust elgislation which goes with it
II the matter is put up TO the presi-
dent he will be troubled TO sign the
bin containing it and be consistent
with his utteranees OF last March.
when he virtually rebuked his party
for doing what it did through the me-
dunn of the sundry civil bill
Convention Fight Due.
Shortly congress and the ranks OF
the militant conservationists of the
United States will be arrayed
against each other on the subject
OF control of the water power in
the navigable streams. Is Uncle Sam
&c have control over water power
leases, or is it to be vested hereafter
In the legislatures of the individual
states? The majority in congress be-
lieves in states rights. The conserva-
uonists say that If the matter be
turned over entirely to the states. mo-
nopoly Will rejoice and the public will
be robbed
In December there was a National
Conservation congress held in Wash
instoD. 1t was supposed TO be com
posed OF delegates devoted entirely TO
the plan to keep the command of wa
ter power sites in the hands OF Uncle
Sam. However. there were good
many delegates present who 1t was
charged we're representatives of the
water power people. and who were
present for the sdse purpose of trying
to thwart conservation under federal
authority.
There was hot controversy in the
conservation congress. but finally q
resolution introduced by Clifford PIN
chot cledging the congress TO the prin-
ciple that the people would draw a
revenue from their heritages was put
through by an almost unanimous vote.
II was evident that those who were OPP
posed 10. the plan did not care to put
themselves on record as voting against
something which il put into effect
seemingly will give the entire people a
return for the power site rights which
the government may srant
Water Power Lease Bill.
There is today before congress a bill
which is intended to give to the indi-
vidual states the right to lease water
power sites on nayigable streams with
in their borders, Uncle Sam is sup
posed to have control of navigable
strer ms and therefore the conserva-
tionists say that giving the states pow
er to govern in the matter Is taking
away from the federal government q
constitutional right and that the result
will be. state legislatures being more
easily reached than a national legisla.
ture. that monopoly will get hold of
the water power sites and the people
will get no return for that which is
inheritentiy theirs.
Within six months the United States
Supreme court has handed down two
decisions which prove as conclusively
as Supreme court decisions can that
the United States has complete con-
troll of the power in navigable streams
and that IL. can exact payment for it's
use. One case came out of Michigan
and the other out Of Utah.
Recently limitations have been
printed that the president of the Unit
ed States is in entire sympathy with
the Democrats in congress who want
to give water power TO corporations
without payment to the whole people
for its use. The president is a states
rights man. but II is not believed he
has expressed himself as in favor OF
such plan. The Pinchot men say
the report almost unquestionably is
being spread In order TO make the peo-
pie of the country believe that a man
in whom. they have confidence thinks
the scheme as outlined by the majority
in congress is righteous.
conservationlsts on Guard.
The conservationists in Washington
are wakeful TO the situation They
know everything that is going on and
1t is known that II congress attempts
TO do what subcommittee apparently
intends that II shall do, there will be-
another fight In the. center OF a field
with as much interested onlookers ae
there we're when Mr.. pinchot and his
followers attacked Mr.. Ballinger and
his follow c!s.
The Democrats say that they ace
progressive and are concentrations g.
The followers OF the school of Clifford
Pinchot deny that the Democrats ara
telling tho truth. The cons srvationists
say that TO put The water site matter
in the hands of the states is To throw
away money and TO make monopoly
certain. II water power legislation in
the form in which the majority in con-
gress seem TO want to enact II is put
through and signed by the president,
1t is declared by the conservationists
that one pledge in the Democratic plat
form will have been shattered. that
monopoly will rejoice and that the peo-
pie OF the United States will have
their pockets picked.
On the other hand the Democrats
say that the states can be depended
upon to safeguard their own rights
and that there is no reason why the
federal government should enter into
the confines OF any one state TO regn-
late the affairs Of its people In the wa
ter power matter.
Clear View From Mountain