New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-09
WATER RIGHTS BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
Shields Measure Gives River
Power to Private Capital.

asNllglOns MaICh Q. TIC nOHo5N
tonight. after four weeks Of debate,
passed the Shields bill to provide for
development of waterpower in nav
igable waters by private capital. Tht
vote y as &c to p. Conservation cham
pions fought hard TO amend the meas
ure, but without avail.
Several Senators voted for the bill
who had opposed it during the debate.
One, Senator Walsh, said he considered
it bad legislation, but firmly believed
it would be amended when It reached
the House. Those who voted against
the bill were Senators Ashurst, Borah,
Chamberlain, Chiffon, Cummins, Gron-
IA. Hollis, Hustine, James, Kenyon. La
Toilette. Lane. Lea. Lee, Lewis, Mar
tine, Newlauds, Norris, PolndeXter,
Reed, Sheppard and Works.
final effort 20 prevent o vote on
the measure and return 10 TO the com
mittee was made by senator hustng,
whose motion 70 recommit was beaten,
40 10 -. An amendment by Senator
Chiffon requiring the secretary OF War
to decide contests for permits 10 buld
dams in favor of the applicants offer
ing the lowest priced service TO the
public was defeated, 80 TO y.
Bill Attacked by Reed.
Senator Reed attacked the provision
of the bill which provides that a con
test be decided IN favor of the appl-
cant able to guarantee the best con-
gtruction. declaring that thls would
result in the best sites gong 10 the
interests now operating power plants.
lie declared the measure would grant
corporations absolute control OF the
countrys waterp0wer for long time
AT the end of the fifty years IN the
grant Senator Reed said, the govern
ment can enjoy the blessed privilege o.
taking over the plants and paying ior
them the full value. believe tn1t
back of this law which would gram
these enormous powers is the same
crowd that was back Of the Coosa River
project in Alabama
The Shields bill had been under al
most continuous debate since the pass
age Of the Philippine bill, February a..
IL was opposed by the National Con
servation Association, OF which GlAord
PiuchOt ls president
Senator Walsh made a hard but los
ing fight 10 obtain for the Federal
government compensation Tor puDHc
land withdrawn for use IN dam con-
struction on The basis Of power ere
Gted. His amendment was opposed Dy
Senator Shafroth and other Senators
of the public land states, VINO con-
tended that the government had no
control over waterways except IN 50
far as concerned their navigaDility.
Substitute Measure Rejected.
Senator Husting and other conserva-
ton champions sought valnly 10 SUB
stitute a measure based on the Wis
cousin water power law and retaining
with Congress control Of power sites.
Senator Newlands tried without sue
cess TO attach 10 the bill his measure
providing waterways commission ana
appropriating SGO,O0O000 annually for
ten wears for food control waterway
Improvement and soil protection.
As adopted, the bill permits the con-
struction of dams in navigab!e waters
under licenses issued by the secretary
Of War and gives grantees the right 10
oberate power plants iOr hIty years.
efter which time the Federal govern
ment may take oNci N"t '~"'
gwen two years notice ana paying d
fair value to be determined by the sec
rotary Of War and the owner or py
proceedings in the United states courts
Regulation Of rates ana services
placed with the states IN which the
nisnts are located, or, If interstate
pormerce is involved, with the Inter
state Commerce Commission on appeals
lien the states involved are unable
20 agree on reasonable rates and ade-
The bin also provides that no works
shall be operated in any combination
10 limit the output Of electric power
~ l., restraint Of trade.