The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-01-28
ON THAT FERRIS BILL
Z oLLowlNG are extracts from

/. Mr.. Chairman, am not opposed {,
the main objects of this bill. Tn
people Of my state. the state Of Ore
gon, welcome regulation. They hav,
it 1T the present time. was q mem
Der Of the Oregon legislature when W,
passed the law limiting water righ
appropriation for power purposes t.
forty years. But am opposed to thu
rental, to the taxation provision o.
this bill. do not think that there
should be any federal taxation upor
cur water powers under the guise and
the subterfuge of rental Of the United
States public land. That is what am
particularly opposed to. beacuse every
dollar of rental. every dollar OF taxa.
tion you euphemistically call rental.
must be paid by the residents. by the
water users residing in my state and
the other states affected by this bill.
What will be the result II this provi-
sion is left here? / call your atten-
tion to the hearings before the COM
iuittee last year. on page 513, where
there is inserted the blank form of
the water power contract, form 81.
revised December 20. 1913, when the
present administration was in power,
having the same officials as there are
now In the department. The charges
are placed, beginning at the first year
with 10 cents. the fifth year at so
cents per horse power: the tenth year
and each succeeding year, the charges
are to be 81 per horse power. And
then, again, on page 753 of the hear
ings, under this caption: "Determi-
nation of capital values of power sites
together with possible basis for rem
tals." the department again inserts
the rental Of 81 per horse power. Now
what does that mean to my state and
to the other Western states affected
by this bill!
On page $40 of the hearings we
have this statement prepared by the
geographical survey and the forestry
department:
The accompanying tables show the
estimated capacity of machinery that
may reasonably be expected
And mind you, reasonably be ex-
pected"-
TO be installed in the development
OF the water power possibilities of
power site reserves outside of the ma
tional forests. 1t is estimated by the
officials of the forest service that
about 12,OO0.O00 horse power can be
developed on the national forests on
the basis of low water conditions.
with consideration. however, to some
storage sites. 1t is roughly estimated
therefore, that installation of water
wheels aggregating 100000 horse
power capacity may reasonably be
made on power sites of the public do.
main on the basis Of low water condi-
lions, and this may be increased to
horse power IL all storage
facilities are utilized.
Now these figures relate only to
he eleven Western states. A possi-
'ility Of developing on the public. do
main 100000 horse power taxed d
It II per horse power. the eleven Y
western states paying into the Golfers t
II the government $4,000. 900 a year n
When the horse power that may reas- t
'nably be expected to be DEVELOPED ia p
developed. g
In the report of the committee ac- q
ompanying this bill, signed by the Il
hartman. We find on page II that the
orse power outside of the eleven
Western states amounts to about T. a,
10000 horse power. Not a dollar =,
rental. not dollar taxation can be :
imposed on these water powers In the
orth Atlantic, the South Atlantic.
le North Central and the South Cen.
al states. because they are not upon
le public domain.
Therefore. they are Offering to us
ait OF 80 per cent of this CONTINGENT
lxation and. expect us to swallow II.
ou want W complacently to submit
this inequality? Ny own state. on
'e basis of these hgrues. prepared
the department. will pay annually
'er $S.000.000 into the Golfers Of the
nited States government; and vet
" tell US that We are on footing
equality.
Ana yet you say you are not charg-
3 Tor the power. Why. Mr.. Chair.
IN. It IL the sheersst sophistry and
pocricy to say that that IL not Q
arse for our water powers. It iss
arse for the water power. Why, II