Evening star., 1916-03-08
SENATE DEFEATS
GREAT FALLS PLAN
Project for Development of
WaterpoWer Lost by
30 to 20.

BY a narrow margin. 80 to IS votes,
the Senate late yesterday afternoon
laid on the table the amendment Of
fered by Senator Norris to the Shields
dam site bill providing for the devel-
opment of the Great Falls waterpower
for use in the National Capital
Senator Norris said today that he
might offer his amendment again when
the bill reaches another parliamentary
stage. though he had not fully made
up his mind about it. He said that
number of the votes which had been
cast in favor OF tabling his amend
ment would really be in favor of the
Great Falls water power measure had
1t been before the Senate without ref
srence to the Shields dam site bill.
Will Continue the Fight.
II intend to do all in my power to
get this project through the Senate at
the present session." said Senator Nor
ris today Interest among the SEN
ators in the measure is developing, and
l believe that when action comes it
will be favora BILE
The Great Falls project is before the
Senate District committee also in the
form of a separate bill, introduced by
Senator Norris. He intends to try to
get favorable report on the bill at an
early date.
Senator Norris made a strong speech
in favor of his amendment, which Is
pre,licated upon a report made to Con-
gress by the War Department in reply
to a resolution adopted by Congress in
1912. and which calls for an eXpendi-
ture of about s1J,OO0.0oO for the pro-
posed waterpower and increased water
supply development.
Deems Engineers Report Sufficient.
He told the Senate that he had made
many attempts to have the Great Falls
waterpower project passed upon by the
Senate District committee, but had been
unable to get the committee to take
the matter up. He attributed this fact
largely to the press of work before
Congress during the last two or three
years, which has prevented the taking
up of great many matters worthy OF
consideration,
But Senator Norris argued that the
investigation and report made by the
army engineers and other experts en-
that were really necessary for the Senate
to have before it in considering the pro-
pCsal for the waterpower development.
He pointed out that a great saving would
result for the government il the project
were undertaken and predicted that power
and light could be furnished the citizens
Of Washington at greatly reduced rates.
Senator Robinson OF Arkansas urged
that the Great Falls project should
first be considered and reported upon
by compittee of the Senate before
action was taken on it, senator Pom
creme of Ohio said that he did nov think
general bill such is the Shields
dam site bill, and Senator Eankhead
took the same view.
Opposed as Rider to Shields Bill.
Senator Pomerene said that he had
given the Great Falls waterpower
project considerable consideration and
that he would like TO see the power plant
established. but that he did not think
ii wise to attach II to the pending bill
lie finally moved to lay the Norris
amendment on the table, which shut
off further debate.
On the motion the vote was as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Bankhead. Beckham. Clark of
Arkansas. du Pont, Hardwick. Hitch
cock, johnson of Maine, Kern, Lea of
Tennessee, Martin of Virginia, Nelson.
oliver, Phe1an, Pomerene, Ransdell,
Reed. Robinson. ShafIoth, Sheppard,
Shields. Simmons. Smith of Arizona.
Smith of Georgia, Stone, Sutherland,
swanson, Thompson. Tillman, Vardaman
and Walsh
Nays - Ashurst, Borah, Brandegee,
Chamberlain. Clapp. Clark of Wyom-
ing, Cummins, Curtis. Gore, Hollis,
Husting. Jones, Kenyon. La Toilette.
Lane, Lewis. MARITIME of New jersey,
Myers Newlands. Norris. Overmar
Page, Pittman, Poindexter. Smith OF