New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-27
RAIDING THE NATIONS RESOURCES
Mr.. Clifford Pinchot Denounces Power Grab
Bill, Pending in Congress

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Congress is about to decide in the
session which opens December 4. whether
officially valued at hundreds Of millions OF
dollars, shall or shall not be given away 20
certain special interests which are already
rich enough. Unless the people take hand
he decision is sure TO go against them
The iniquitous Shields water power bill has
rassod the Senate. 1t makes present of the
public water powers on our navigabe streams
10 the water power interests. The power thus
handed over without compensation is esti-
mated at 6O.000OOO horsepower or double the
power Of every kind now used to run every
train. trolley, factory. shop. mill, boat, mine
and electric light in the United States.
While the grant is ostensibly limited 10
fifty years, 1t is in fact perpetual. because the
conditions under which the people might re-
gain control Of their property are made pro-
hibtory, as even advocates of the bill frankly
admit. In practical effect perpetual monop-
ely is given away for nothing
This bill has also passed the House but in
a different and better form. It is now in con-
ference. We know from the statement Of
Senator Nelson on the floor OF the Senate that
the friends of the water power interests ex-
pect to control the conference. II is worth
noting, therefore. that the conferrees from
the House and Senate are now meeting, al
though Congress does not convene until De
cember A.
vigorous effort was made TO pass this IN
defensible raid on the public property whi''
public attention was fixed on the interna
tional crisis last winter. 1t failed, because
editors Of the country came 10 the defence OF
the public rights, and the bill was postponed
until after election.
Another vicious measure is the Myers bill,
which does for water powers on public lands
what the Shields dill does for powers on nav
igable streams. The two are cut from ths
came piece of cloth and have the same inter
csts behind them. The Myers bill is on thu
Senate calendar ana will be considered early
in the coming session.
These two bills give away public property
20 powerful monopolists. That is bad enough
but the oil land provisions of the Phelan bill
are even worse This bill will be taken up
immed iately when Congress convenes. II dis
poses of vast areas of public oil lands or
terms unfair TO the public. 1t is almost UNI
belevabe. but this measure actually gives
away the fuel oil reserves of the United
States Navy to claimants whom the Supreme
Court recently declared to have no legal
rights whatever. The efficiency Of the navy,
cur first and most important line OF national
defence, is to be sacrificed TO the profits OF
the Standard Oil Company, the Santa Fe Rail
road interests and few other claimants who
want what they have no right to get.
As to this the Navy Department has Off
cially said:
"Ol burning naval vessels possess such
manifold military advantages over coal burn
ing vessels that it would be practically sui
cidal from a military point Of view for the
Navy Department TO abandon the policy of
building oil burning ships; but the demand
that this legislation be enacted and the sup
port that this bill has received have caused
the Navy Department to seriously consider
the advisability of abandoning this policy,
and thus design ships known to be inferior
to ships which a country possessing an oil
supply can build"
These bills have made such progress that
the advantage OF position is with them and
against the public. Every effort will be made
to jam them through at the beginning of the
short session Of Congress. Powerful water
power and oil interests are fighting for them
| appeal to you as one interested in the pub
lie welfare without regard to politics to lend
a hand in defeating these attacks on public
property and on the safety and welfare OF
the navy and the nation.
CLIFFORD PINCHOT
Washington. D. c., Nov. %, 1916.