The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-11-30
GREAT ROBBERY PENDING
The People to be Robbed OF Valu-
able Resources
November Y, 1911

Mr.. a. X. Jordan, Editor Inc
Herald, Punta Gorda, Fla. Con
gress is about to decide, in the SEES
sion which opens December 4,
whether natural resources be-
longing to the people, and official
ly valued at hundreds of millions
of dollars, shall or shall not be CIV
EN- away to certain special inter-
ests which are already rich e.
nough. Unless the people take a
hand, the decision is sure to go a.
gainst them.
The iniquitous Shields water
power bill has passed the Senate.
1t makes present of the public
water powers on our navigable
streams to the waterpower inter-
ests. The power thus handed ov-
err without compensation is esti-
mated at sixty million horsepow-
Ter, or double the power of every
kind now used to run every train,
trolley, factory, shop, mill, boat,
mine, and electric light in the u
nited States.
While the grant is ostensibly
limited to fifty years, it is in fact
perpetual, because the conditions
under which the people might re-
gain control of their property are
made prohibitory, as even advo-
catec of the bill frankly admit. In
practical effect, a perpetual mo-
nopcly is given away for nothing.
This bill he's also passed the
House, but in different and bet
ter form. 1t is now in Confer
ence. We know from the state
ment of Senator Nelson on the
foo. Of the Senate that the friends
of the waterpower interests expect
to control the Conference. 1t is
worth noting, therefore, that the
Conferees from the House and Sen
ate are now meeting, although
Congress does not convene until
December 4.
A vigorous effort has b5en made
to pass this indefensible raid on
the public property while public
attention was fixed on the inter-
national crisis last winter. 1t fail
ed, because editors Of the country
came to the defense Of the public
rights, and the bill was postpon-
ed until after election.
Another vicious measure is the
Myers bill, which does for water
powers on public lands what the
Shields bill does on navigable
streams. The two are cut from
the same piece Of cloth, and have
the same interests behind them.
The Myers bill is ON the Senate
calendar, ard win bs considered
early il the coming session.
These two bills give away pub
lie property to powerful monopo-
lists. That is bad enough, but
the oil land provisions Of the Pie
Ian bill are even worse. This bill
will be taken up Immediately
when Congress convenes. It dis
poses of vast areas of public oil
lands on terms unfair to the pub
lie. 1t is almost unbelievable,
but this measure actually gives a.
way the fuel reserves of the Unit
ed States Navy to claimants
whom the Supreme Court recently
declared to have no rights what
ever The efficiency of the Navy,
our first and most important line
Of National defense, is to be sac
rificed to the profits of the Stan
dard Oil Company, the Santa Fe
Railroad interests, and few 9th
or claimants, who want what thew
have no right to get.
AS to this, the Navy Depart
nent has officially said.
coil burning naval vessels pos
,ess such manifold military advan-
ages over coal burning vessels
hat it would be practically sui
,idal from a military point of
view for the Navy Department to
abandon the policy Of building oil
burning ships; but the demand |
hat this legislation be enacted |
md the support that this bill has
'eceived, have caused the NAVY |
Department to seriously consider
he advisability of abandoning
his policy, and thus designing
hips known to be inferior to ships
which a country possessing an oil |
supply can build"
These bills have made such pro-
gress that the advantage of posi-
ion is with them and against the
public. Every effort will be made
o jam them through at the begin
ng of the short session of Con-
,ress. Powerful waterpower and
III interests are fighting for them
appeal to you as a citizen inter.
sted in the public welfare. with
nut regard to nOlitioe 70 III