The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10
Writes Members of State
Senate Regarding Acts
Now on Statute Books
SUBJECT TO COME
BEFORE THE SOLONS
Places Senator White at Variance
With Senator Bankhead and Sena-
tor-elect Underwood on
the Question
nv HUGH w. ROBERTS

montgomery, January o. Special
! Inc most interesting story which de.
Veioped among incoming mem5ers ii
the legislature today was one in whic!
Capt Frank White, a senator of thu
United States. plays the leading part
He has written to members of the state
senate urging them to repeal certain
legislation passed during the admins
tTation OF Ex-Governor b. b. Conner
which he has been led to believe Is ia
Norable to the companies developing
water power in Alabama
The senator is not very explicit in
his letter, for he admits that the leg
| islation he desires to be repealed has
never rested beneath his eye At a
matter of fact, he admits by inference
that he is unaware of his own knowl-
edge that such legislation exists. for he
says II am informed that it is in ex-
istence'
The letter of the senator has create d
great interest in Montgomery For it
places him at variance with Senator
Eankhead and Senator ELECT Under
wood. His position is taken to mean,
us a matter of fact, that he is already
preparing himself to meet on The po-
litical hustings his contemporary in
the Senate who has been, as is known,
one of the most ardent advocates Of the
Plan to make the latent water power of
Alabama turn the wheels of industry,
and thus make the people rich.
Senator Whites Letter
The copy of the senator's letter, made
Public here this morning, follows:
81 am sending you copy of IL. II.
1868. being an act to amend an act
to regulate the construction of dams
across navigable waters approved
June 81, 1906. with the Senate amend
rnent thereto. the House rill being that
part of the document partially stricken
out by lines printed over it, concluding
on line 10 on page Is, the Senate
amendment beginning on lire IA, paae
is, and continuing to the end OF the
document.
This contemplated legislation is of
more Importance to the people of Ala
hama than any legislation which has
been, or will be. before the Congress,
owing to the fact that Alabama has
so many navigable streams across
which these dams may be constructed.
In this respect Alabama is favored over
N"Some years ago the Legislature of
Alabama passed an act practically Civ
ing away the water power of the state.
have not seen said act, but am in
formed that it is in existence. Under
this act the state has already lost. as
am informed. most OF the water power
or the Coosa river, at least thac part
of It. which has been appropriated In
connection with the construction of the
extensive dam lately built across that
stream.
Suggests the Repeal
"I write to suggest that the legisla-
tire OF the state repeal this former act
Of the legislature. or amend it SO as TO
preserve to the state this valuable as.
set. Knowing your interest in such
matters, I take the liberty of calling
your attention to it. This water power
is the greatest asset the state ever
had certainly the greatest it has now
The hydro electric power that can be
developed by the flow of Alabama riv
ers will be sufficient to operate indus
trial plants to an almost unlimited eX-
tent, besides furnishing the people of
the state with light and heat almost
ithout limit. Very truly yours.
FRANK S. WHITE"
Another reason the letter of the sem
ator is considered with sc much inter-
est is the fact that this legislature
plans, it is said to consider the oues-
ton of water power. AS a result of
that consideration it is considered GER
tain that development under way will
either be continued to it's logical con-
clusion or abandoned practically in
toto.