The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-21
Garrison Presents Ad-
ministration's Views to
Committee Chairman.
SUGGESTS NEW
PUBLIC DAM ACT
AS Approved by President, Effort
Is Made to Recognize Equi-
table Sphere Both of States
and Federal Authorities,
With Public interests
Safeguarded.

Washington, February 20.-Secretary
Garrison to o-night made public letter
to Chairman 4Adamson, of tho House
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, which embodies the water
power policy of the national adminis-
tration as It has been approved by
President Wilson. The secretary an
nounced that In the controversy over
the rights OF the States and the Fed
eral government, he had decided to
adopt a policy which recognizes the
equitable sphere of EACH
Accompanying the letter was a draft
of new public dam act. representing
the Administrations views on water
projects In navigable streams. The
plan would require those who wish ed
to dam q stream for water power pur-
poses to obtain tho right to do so from
the Public Utility Commissions of the
various States. and present their ap-
plications TO the Federal government
after showing that the applicants are
duly Incorporated public utilities
Power OF regulation would be retained
by the Federal government. and the
War Department would be vested with
discretionary right to issue permits
only to those States which have pub
lie utility laws imposing reasonable
charges" and proper safeguards to the
public interest.
Brief Review of Controversy.
After reviewing briefly the contro-
yersy between the advocates of strict
national regulation and the supporters
OF the States rights view, Secretary
Garrison said in his letter to Repre-
sentative Adamson:
1T seemed to me that the proper
point of view from which to approach
situation which had reached what
appeared to be permanent standstill
was to consider no. only the law. but
also the equities and interests OF I'll
concerned, SO as TO decide upon policy
consonant with law and with the
equities and interests aforesaid
Legally speaking, do not think
there can be any dispute that. with
respect to the question of power, the
position of the Federal government Is
paramount. Nothing can be done
without It's consent. and only that can
be done to which II consents There
is no Justification for a policy of do
nothing. Therefore. the question is
what is the wise policy to adopt that
something may be done? The interests
10 be considered and the equities with
respect thereto. I view as follows:
First. of course. there are the com
munities which will benefit by the
utilization OF the water power develop
ed by the placing of dams In navigable
streams. Newt is the immediate SOW
ereign over them, which would di.sc,
this matter, and have power with re-
spect thereto, were II not for the para
mount power above alluded to, which
resides In tho Federal government
Finally, there is the Federal govern:
II b,,
Of It's ability legally to prevent the
doing OF anything without it's consent
therefore, the proper solution seems
to me to be to adopt n policy which
recognizes the equitable sphere Of each
OF those In interest I conceive the
equitable sphere OF the Federal gov
ernment to be to see TO it that this
great public utility. wherever availed
OF. should be avaiIed of In a way that
VIII benefit the greatest number under
the most favorable terms possible; and
In doing so. to recognize the justice
(not as matter of law). of the State
entity or sovereignty receiving a rev
enue from the operation of this pub
lie utility within Its confines, and regu.
lating It for the benefit of Its people.
New Public Dam Act.
THE draft of the DILL which here
with hand you, and which. If 1t meets
''eii soui Nppi Ofii, SuE SSSl you IN
troduce into Congress. seeks to accom-
plish the objects have above outlined
1t Is new public dam act
Briefly speaking, 1t provides that
| those who wish TO dam nnvigable
stream and incidentally create water
power. must, rs at present. obtain the
right so to do from their State, ther
must obtain authority from the Con
gress. The company seeking this right
| must be public utility company and
| subject to laws regulating public
utilities, so that Its operations may be
properly regulated and controlled
The State in which this company Is In
| corporated. or in which 1t operates
must. for tho protection Of the people
! and the prevention of monopoly and
other misuse, have provided com.
mission or body authorized and EN-
powered properly TO regulate public
utilities Of this character. and such
body or such law must have provided
, proper regulations to the ond that the
, company shall make proper use of the
utility, give proper service, make onl,
reasonable charges, and otherwise con.
duct Itself In a way to conserve the
right of the people in the use OF the
public utility. in all cases where the
provisions have been complied with
the Secretary of War may Issue the
permit. The franchise or right may
be for any period up to fifty years"