The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-04-03
M'COARD FAVORS AND
EXPLAINS THE JONES
POWER BILL
Homedale, Idaho,
march rs, 1914.
Caldwell, Idaho.
Editor The Caldwell Tribune,


Editor he Caldwell Tribune,
Dear Sir:
You have frequently asked me fot
copy on some phase of the irrigation
interests OF the Gem District or o.
the state and | know of no more
opportune time to say something
worth while than now.
Most Of your readers know that
during my tour years experience as
president of the board OF directors OF
the Cen Irrigation District | gained
some hrst hand information concern
ing the practical workings OF our
land and irrigation laws. To put il
mildly l met surprises that modified
my thories considerably.
We had not gone tar in our con-
tract with Mr.. /. w. Sheffield before
l realized that he was a lucky man
to have gotten his filings outside the
pale OF the Withdrawals under the gov
eminent conservation policy. We
had not gone lar in our business
dealings with Mr.. G. b. Smith OF the
Crane rails Co, before | realized
that he had run against a snag and
was seeking to get the Districts help
to clear the snag and save an invest
ment already made at Crane Falls.
/ his all resulted favorably for the
Gem District, Ior it helped us to get
our contract. However, | fear it
did not do all that Mr.. Smith hoped
that it would do for his company.
Indeed, am reasonably sure that this
was one of the snags that finally so
wrecked the company that it was not
able to complete its contract with us
a g AZ rn faf Ia aI
The snap that | refer to is the pre-
sent law governing the acquisition Of
water power rights on the public do
main.
Now, before going further l want
to square myself with you and with
your readers.
From the foregoing remarks | do
not wish to be Understood as being
opposed to the governments con-
serVauon policy. In my judgment
that pohcy is one of the wisesI as well
as one OF the most popular move
menus made In recent years. The pity
is that 1t was not in vogue soon
enougnt to have saved to the
country resources earlier gobbled up
by unworthy methods. 1t is, rather,
that l believe strongly IN the con-
SerVatlon OF our natural resources and
l think 1 see a movement on loot that
viii assist such conservation and fur
Their, 1t is because | know that you
and members OF the press generally
ran help the thing along that | am
writing you at TINS time.
1t may not generally be known to
your readers that practically every
power site of any importance in the
country has been withdrawn from
entry and can be secured tor develop
ment only through the Department
OF the Inferior, Further: the fact is
not generally known that no one can
secure permit to develop power on
one OF these sites with any guarantee
that his permit will be conunued Tor
a day. such permit may be revoked
at any time, without notice, without
cause, and without compensation. The
department at Washington is the sole
arDlter in the matter and asks every
man who spends a dollar in such de-
to do so on absolute trust
that the government will always act
in good faith.
he defect in the law is so glaring
that the Hon. Walter l.. Fisher, for
mer Secretary of the Interior, in an
address before the National Water
ways Commission called attention to
the matter in the following strong
language. THE fundamental point is |
that 1t we are going to encourage de-
velopment we have got to protect the |
investment. This thing or expecting |
water development to go on under
a permit that is theoretically revoc-
able tomorrow morning is all wrong.
1t leads to this result: In a great
many instances capital, which would
otherwise so into such enterprises,
stays out altogether and we do not
get any development. In cases where
II goes in, and practically where the
money is borrowed on bonds or
otherwise, it leads to demand for Il
much larger return and higher
rate OF interest and a higher dis
count than would otherwise be lust
liable, these higher rates being de-
manded by the lender on the ground
risk"
1t does not require that one be an
irrigation expert or a power expert
or legal expert to see the justice Of
Mr.. Fishers criticism. With as many
safe places as there are for the in
vestment of money few men are will
ing to gamble on what the depart
ment of the interior will do and the
few who do so gamble are careful TO
charge enough extra to cover the
risk.
All the foregoing might with pro-
priety have been left unsaid were II
not that there is now pending in con-
greSs bill called the Jones Water
Power Bill' which seeks to remedy
the defects of the present law. In
my Judgment the bill succeeds ad-