Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-11
CONSERVATION
OF WATER POWER
IS LANE S POLICY
Bill Passed by House at Last
Session to Be introduced
Into Senate and Pushed as
Administration Measure,

tsssc,., eossssrosos.ce 70 sossiNs JOURNAL
Washington, May I'm a recent
statement Secretary of Interior Lane
announced that the water power ieas-
ing bill. passed by the house of rep
resentatlves last session, will be intro
duced upon the convening of The SIX
ty-fourth congress This means the
first gun has been fired In the jight
for conservation legislation. which the
administration will make In the new
congress.
ADMINISTRATION win Aid Program.
The secretary's statement also indi-
Gates that the whole force OF the adj
minlstration will be thrown behind
the conservation program. This les
islation failed. Of passing In the senate
last session because OF the threatened
filibuster by a combination OF states
rights ana INSTRUMENTATION senator's,
led by Smoot, of Utah; Borah, of
Idaho. and Shafroth. of Colorado Sec
rotary Lanes statement is accepted
here as the gauntlet TO the opposition
forces
The senator's who opposed the con-
servation legislation made the pro-
posed water power legislation the
main point of attack. Mr.. Lane, in
his statement calls attention 10 the
necessity OF water power legislation
TO safeguard the public interests. He
believes that the recent consolidation
of western water power companies In
Colorado, Utah. Idaho, Montana and
Washington, when contaminated. Will
place under n single corporate control
about so per cent of the developed
water powers of the western states.
Mr.. Lane further said regarding this
merger;
such consolidation involving
widely, separated power plants, inter-
and lntrastate transmission lines, and
federal questions beyond the scope OF
state utility commissions. emphasizes
the necessity Of federal control and
regulation In the interest Of the peo-
pie"
Interests of Public Threatened.
Those who oppose this proposed
legislation lay much stress upon the
states rights theory But the futllity
of state control is shown by MIR Lane
as follows: 1T Is apparent that IL the
water power sites of the west are al
lowed to pass into private ownership
without restriction, II will he
practically impossible to regulate or
control monopoly In this important
resource or to regulate this product
in the interest OF the consumer The
possibilities connected with the utili-
zation Of the water power of the Unit
ed States are not at this time realized,
nor can any one predict what changes
In the method OF development and
control will be Required ny the public
nj h0t h..
from today. Only by retaining the
fee to these lands and rights In the
federal government and measure OF
control can the interests of the pub.
lie. present and future, be properly
safeguarded." Rs
Leasing Measure Fight Expected.
In addition to the waterpower bill,
one of the important measures is the
general leasing measure, which pro.
vides for the development and use,
under rules and regulations. OF the
coal, oil, phosphate. potash, and 9TH
err similar minerals now in federal
ownership. This bill was one of the
measures which passed the house last
fall II is probably around this legis-
lation that the strongest fight will
come because Senator Borah of Idaho
whose potentially as republican
presidential nominee is we'll known
will lead the opposition to this meas.
ure, which he likens to the legislation
in the revolutionary days--to tax
without representation In other
words, Mr.. Borah sees himself, oil
perhaps thinks the western people
Will see him, as the Patrick Henry OF
his day II is evident that Mr.. Bo.
rah's efforts Will be assisted by n bi.
partisan combination containing sen.
ators like Smoot. Fall of New Mexico
Penrose of Pennsylvania. Clark OF
| Wyoming and Lodge of Massachu
sets, and democrats of the old states
rights school like Shafroth, Bank.
head, Thomas, Smith Of Arizona
Overman of North Carolina, Ransdel
Of Louisiana and Tillman of South
Carolina.
| Interesting Days Promised
With the administration backing
this conservation legislation. II is ap.
parent there are interesting days
ahead in Washington. 1t will be q
lineup of reactionaries against radi.
Gals regardless of party. 1t is accept.
ed here that the president will strong.
| ly endorse Secretary Lanes program
and there is an impression that Mr.
Wilson. in one of two speeches thi,
summer, Will urge the importance Of
these constructive measures
Did Not Sail ON Lusitania.