Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-07
Water Power DEVELOPMENT

day, President Wilson said: 1T Us i'm
peratively necessary that the consid-
Grafton Of the full use Of the water
power Of the country, and also the con-
sideration of the systematic and yet
economical development Of such of
the national resources Of the country
as are still under control Of the Fed
eral government, should be resumed
and affirmatively and constructively
dealt with at the earliest possible mo-
| ment. The pressing need Of such leg
GUS"
| It is clear that if the water powers
Of the country are to be developed,
| legislation must be passed under which
financing will be possible. There are
row pending in the United States Sen
ate the so-called Shields Bill, and IA
Commerce to the Senate, and also the
Walsh Bill before the Public Lands
/ Committee in the Senate. Similar bills
| have also been introduced, in the SEN
ate by Myers, and in the House by
Congressman Small. The Shields Bill
! authorizes the secretary OF war, I'M
Ger certain conditions, to grant per-
mits for water power development in
navigable streams; while the Walsh
| Bill authorizes the issuance Of gov
! eminent permits for water power de-
velopment at sites on the public Go
main. Both these bills have many
/ friends among legislators, and among
investors who stand ready to develop
| the water power If given such permits.
The thing that has held up water
| power development for a long time,
as we understand it, is the more or
| less imaginary difference between the
! ultra conservationists, and more prac
| teal men of affairs who believe that
the first thing to do in developing wa
ter powers is to go ahead and develop
/ them. The party of the first part,
standing as high defender Of the
peoples rights. fears any movement
toward development will result in
somebody making profit out of the
venture. On the other hand, the par
! ty of the second part insists With
good logic, and thus far have the
passing of events to prove that, un-
less investment is made profitable
under government control, 1t will not
invest, and that if the people item
selves are waited for to develop the
vast water powers now lying unde-
veoIed, by planning and authorizing
a system of public expenditure AMI
development, the thing will be a long
/ time coming.
(. The American Newspaper Publish
, ers' Association has been dealing
! largely with this subject for months,
and has distributed volumes of infor-
nation bearing upon all branches of
the subject. In recent special bull
! letin chapter is devoted to showing
J tIidl .dI NIIiOId IlHCIlOt > CidliuSu
| differences with the bills now pend
ing in Congress are all reconcilable
with the bills themselves, and that
actually no difference exists. except
in the wording between the demands
for development "of public water pow
ers on terms fair to the public" and
the Shields Bill which retains federal
control over the dam sites which are
to be held in public hands," their
use only being permitted for limited
term of years by private parties.
! Perhaps the Presidents recon-
| mendation, with the knowledge that
has been attained by Congress in re-
cent months, will start the ball to roll
| ing toward actual development of the
| country's immense. wondrously valu-
able and available water powers
Perhaps the Shields or the Walsh
| Bills may be SO amended as to meet
all the requirements insisted upon by
Mr.. Pinchot, or others who constitute
themselves as knights in armor for
the public welfare.