Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-09

CONTINUED from Page Onel
voted against the bill We're Senators
Asnurst, Borah. chamberlain, Chiffon,
CUmmins, Gronr.. !Iasting. James.
Kenyon. LaFolle,;e. Lea. Lee. Lewis.
MARITIME. EewianlS. Norris. Po!ndex-
ter, Reed. Sheppard AID works.
Hustino Detected
A fnal effort To prevent a vote on
the measure and return 1t TO the COM
mittee was made by Senator Husting.
whose motion to re-commit was beat
en- ~ to 1s. An amendment by Senator
Chiffon requiring the secretary Of war
TO decide contests for permits to build
dams in favor of the applicant offer
ing the lowest priced service to the
public was defeated 81 to II.
Senator Reed attacked the provision
Of the bill which provides that con-
tests be decided in favor of the ap-
plicant able to guarantee the best con-
struction. declaring that this would
result in the best sites going to the
interests now operating power plants.
At the end of 90 years of the grant.
Senator Reed said. the government:
can enjoy the blessed privilege of TAX
ing over the plants and paying for
them the full value. Il believe that
back of this Law which would grant
these enormous powers is the same
crowd that was back OF the Coosa
river project in Alabama"
Under Nshate Since Feb. 4
Tire Shields bill had been under al
most continuous debate since the pass
age Of the Philippine hill, Feb. 4. 1t
was opposed by the National Conser-
walton Association. Of which Clifford
Pinchot is president. Many amend
n.cnts were offered by a score of SEN
ator,s but the bill as passed was
changed but little from its original
form.
Senator Walsh made hard but losing
Geht to obtain for the federal govern
ment compensation for public land with
drawn for use in dam construction on the
basis Of power created. His amendment
was opposed by Senator Shafroth and
other senators of the public land states
who contended that the government hat
far as concerned their navigabiiity. Sen
ator Husting and other conservation
champions sought vainly to substitute
measure based on the Wisconsin water
power law and retaining with Congress:
control Of power sites. Senator New
lands tried without success to attach 4
the bill his measure providing water
ways commission and appropriating 80.
10000 annually for 10 years for foot
control, waterway improvement and sol
protection.
struction Of dams in navigable water!
under licenses issued by the secretary O.
war and gives grantees the right to op
crate power plants for 50 years, aftel
which time the federal government ma!
take over the plant after giving two
years notice and paying fair value. t
be determined by the secretary of wal
and the owner. or by proceedings in thu
United States courts.
Regulation Of rates and services is plac
ed With the states in which the plants ar
located or, If interstate commerce Is in
volved. with the Interstate Commerce
Commission on appeals when the state
involved are unable to agree on reason
able rates and adequate service.
Tho bill also provides that no works
shall - operated in any combination Il
limit the output Of electric power or il
restraint Of trade. A parliamentary strus
sle followed the passage OF the ,neasur,
between Senator TillmaE, whose motiol
that his bill for the government owner
ship Of armoe plants be made the untin
ished business Of the Senate was not act
ed ON, and Senator Myers OF Montana
who moved that the Ferris bill passed
by the House. relating to power plants
on public lands, be made the unfinishe,
business. Senator Myers withdrew hi
motion but gave notice he would reintro
s.>> q -y,An thu 4AnatA mat ut NOON