Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-02
THE SHIELDS BILL.

The Shields bill as our readers are
doubtless aware is bill to turn over to
the waterpower interests of the coun-
try, the vast waterpower resources OF
America without sufficient considera-
ton, if any at all. The following edi-
torial view of the bill from the Chris
tian Science Monitor of Boston will be
read with interest The Monitor is
ably edited and endeavors to be fair to
all concerned in its discussion of pub
lie questions. 1t says:
AN organized effort, with millions
of dollars at it's back, has been put
forth to prepare public sentiment for
this gigantic and brazen seizure of
common natural legacy. Within a
short time representative of the lead
ing hydroelectric installation and op-
Grating interests of the country have
met in New York and inaugurated a
propaganda intended to show that the
conservationists were pursuing
course which held back billions ST
dollars in wages from the country's
workers. A passage in a statement
made by one of the leading figures at
the meeting reads: The repression of
waterpower development has come as
result of the agitation by consefva-
tionists during the last seven or eight
years. Millions of cheap horsepower
is going to waste which might be used
10 reduce the cost of living in many
ways. The Shields bill is designed, ap-
parently. to enable the philanthropists
engaged in hydroelectric development
to render null and void all that the
conservationists have accomplished in
the last seven or eight years. If the
mass of the people entertain the idea
that a monopolistic waterpower COM
bination, or system of combinations,
will reduce the price of popular COM
modities in return for favors granted,
they may be disillusioned by contem-
plating the present cost of coal oil and
gasoline.
The house may not pass the Shields
bill, but the impression is prevalent
and strong that it will pass measure
equally as Objectionable by another
name. The two measures will then go
to conference and the conferees are
likely to report back a bill for final
adoption that meets the views of the
waterpower grabbers. In such an
event. only veto can intervene in
behalf of the people. Not long after
the Shields bill passed the senate, Pres
ident Wilson, in letter TO Represen-
tative Kent of California used this Ian
guage:
You may be sure that l will call
the attention of the new secretary of
war to the waterpoWer question at the
earliest possible moment, for you know,
l am sure, my deep and genuine in
terest in it. l agree with you that it is
better to let the waterpower run to
waste than to settle the question in the
wrong way. | am watching the pro-
gress of legislation with a great deal
OF anxiety
Ordinarily, this would be reassur-
ing. 1t has been said lately, however,
that, with the view of Fastening the
adjournment of congress, the president
is disposed to make some concessions.
We are not prepared to believe that he
would approve the Shields bill, or any
thing like it, but, in common with all
who are striving TO check the exploit
ers, spectators and grabbers, we feel
deeply concerned in the outcome of
the legislation that is causing the pres
ident anxiety"