The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-11-07
WATER POWER
BILL IS COMING
Measure viii be Re.introduced at the
Coming Session Of Congress
by tho Administration
Forces.
SITES ARE VALUABLE
Secretary RedfeId Has Just Put An
other Factory System Of
His own Into
Operation.
SITES ARE VALUABLE
lsy United Press STAFF Correspond

emil
WASHINGTON, Nov. THE ad-
ministration forces in congress will
reintroduce at the coming session a
measure similar to the Ferris water
power bill introduced in the last ses-
sion.
Already plans are being made by
administration men to carry the bill
through both houses. The issue is re-
|garded as OF tremendous importance
by the western senators and repre-
'sentatives. Senator Myers Of Mon
tana is expected to Introduce the
measure In the senate and Represent
alive Ferris of Oklahoma in the house.
"On the action Of congress depends
whether the valuable water power
sites of the country shall go out OF
the possession of the people for all
time, or whether the people shall re-
tain their interest In them" said Sen
ator Walsh OF Montana, one OF the
leaders in the night for the Ferris bill
in the last session.
The new water power measure
will be introduced Immediately upon
the opening Of the session. 1t Will
provide, as did the Ferris bill, for
fifty year leases by the federal gov.
eminent, with the provision that at
the end Of that time the government
can take over the properties as a reas.
enable valuation If it wishes.
"State utilities commissions arc
empowered to fix rates; where there
are none, the secretary Of the inter
Tor will do so. This plan prevents
turning over to corporate interests
forever, the water power sites already
of tremendous value and destined TO
become Of far greater importance.
THE fight on the bill probably will
develop on the lines Of state VS.. ma
tional control. I do not consider It
wise to turn over these valuable prop.
critics to the states.
II should be fearful to subject the
Legislature Of Montana to the temp
tations which might be put in Its way
we're it in control of the Montana pow
er sites. Nor can I see any moro
reason why these lands should DC
turned over to the states. than agr1.
cultural lands or coal lands.
National preparedness even, Is IN
part at stake in this fight. The
United States has no nintro deposits.
The war has cut Off our supply. In
the manufacture Of powder, nitrates
are indispensable. We can take the
nitrogen out Of the air, with sufficient
ly large power plants. We should not
let the source Of power get complete
ly out of our hands. On patriotic
grounds we should retain control
thereof.
1.-The future use of power Is SHOWN
in one example: the Milwaukee road
is now electrifying 400 miles OF Its
lines in Montana. 1t is believed that
power will cost only one-th1rd as
much as the old time use Of coal. II
the experiment Is successful, the two
other transcontinental lines In Mon
tana will have to use electric power Or
20 into bankruptcy. We are now
pumping water for our great irrigation
projects, with electric power.
Montana has more electric power
developed per capita than any othsr
state in the union. yet we have only
developed 100000 horsepower of the
so 900 available"
Senator Walsh attended the north
western conference on waterpower IN
Portland a short time ago. Il think
T am justified in saying the confer
once was pretty we'll under the con-
troll of the waterpower interests, he
said.
The Ferris bill passed the house In
the last session and was reported out
of committee in the senate. but was
lost in the closing rush. The similar
bill to be introduced at this session
will have the full support OF the ad-
ministration forces.
RedrieId's system.
Secretary >Redfeld has just put an
other factory system" into operation
in the commerce department. 1t Is
designed as q checkup system on oil
complaints to the steamboat inspec-
ton service.
Redaeld was a successful factory
man before becoming cabinet mem
Der He was one Of the first men in
the government to institute cost
system" for a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
without which no successful business
house now does business
,,edields latest efficiency plan was
born Of the necessity for the super
vising inspector of certain district
having complete information of all
complaints fled with local inspectors
under him; and Of the supervising
inspector general of the service, In
WASHINGTON, also having this informa
ton, with whatever action was taken
noted.
The system consists OF five blank
forms printed on brilliant red paper
It is so insistent color that no Of
fetal can fail to remark it. The first
form is an Acknowledgement to the
complainant. who is instructed II
large type to write to the supervising
inspector. If he doesn't get action or
his complaint within two weeks.
The other forms are for forwardine
by local inspectors and the supervis
ing inspector, all information in con
'nection with the complaint