The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-22
MONDAY MORNING, JAN. u, 1917.
THE INDEPENDENT AND THE MYERS
BILL

BILL
The time spent in the contemplation Of water that
has already passed over the spiltxay does not usu
ally bring profitable returns but in view of the most
astounding utterances of the Helena Independent.
regarding the provisions Of the Shields water power
bill. as applicable to navisable streams and the
Myers water power bill. as applicable only to power
sites on lands belonging to the United States. as re-
produced in this column yesterday morning. we are
constrained to elucidate the matter further.
After the Independent had sravey asserted that:
1.-THE Shields bill is not before congress at
all. The bill now under consideration is the
Myers bill which in effect meets all the OBJ
jections to the Shields bill and is approved by
conservatives. In effect the
Myers bill does away with n.o.opoly
The bill if it becomes law win open up these
sites and make power cheaper
"The Montana delegation in congress is
working hard for the bill and il it passes the
senate will become a law. Likewise this will
sound the death knell of the Shields bill.
Doubtless much Of the opposition to the
Shields bill comes from water power mo-
nopolies."
It is hardly conceivable that newspaper would
print such mass Of absurd untruths, even in the
hope Of beclouding the issue with Montana leg
islature.
As The Muscular pointed out yesterday. both
the Shields bill and the Myers bill are in exactly the
same identical legislative status. the house having
passed substitute water power bill for the Shields
bill (Which had passed the senate) and the Myers
bill being substitute senate bill for the Ferris water
power bill (which had already passed the house) :;
as neither the house senate conerees will yield the
point at issue between the two houses. which is the
all important basic princip le-shal the people turn
over these water powers in pepetuity or shall there
be real 5Oyear limit on the franchise thus srantedp
The house has gone on record twice, as to the
provisions contained in both the Shields bill (appI-
cable only to navisable nvers) and the Myers bill
Applicable only to the public lands OF the west),
rejecting the principle Of perpetual grant, although
both the Shields and the Myers bill ostensiby pro-
vide for 5Oyear limit but so ordered that it will
these great water powers.
We shall be disappointed indeed if the assertion
Of the Independent be true. that THE Montana
delegation in congress is working hard for the BILL"
Surely their Montana constituents. who are advised
as TO the true inwardness Of the bill, are not in favor
OF thus turning over to water power monopoly the
most valuable asset Of the people Of this state.
= =
The Missouians attention has just been called to
the following statement Of the National Conservation
association Of which ex-President Charles W. Eliot
of Harvard college is the honorary president. re-
sarding the Shields bill and the Myers bill:
"since the fight over the Alaskan resources
was won, there has not been pressing
threat against conservation as the present
effort in congress, through the Shields bill
TO give away public water powers forever
and Tor nothing, to monopolistic control.
This year. thanks largely to skllful and
elaborate campaign conducted by the water
power men, II has passed the senate
1T is officially estimated that the amount
OF water power which will be disposed of un-
der this bill is larger by far than all the mower
OF every KIND now IN use in the United States
by 1t an amount of water power sufficient
to meet the needs of two hundred ,ni,,ior
people will be granted in perrctuity to the
water power interests.
Although it is made to appear that tho
grant Is Tor SO years, the So Year limit is set
in fact not upon the grant but upon tho ri.,t
OF the United States or other public agency to
condemn the property Under this bill mn
nicipal ownership of water power 10 r,odo
practically impossible.
AS matte" of fact it has been 50 drawr
as to make 1t mpracticabe for the people to
take back their own water power into their
own hands," ~
ne statement goes on to say regarding the Myers
bill. which our esteemed Helena contemporary saws
meets all the objections to the Shields bill :" and
also does away with monopoly. regarding which
he Muscular complains strenuousy" and which
protects the rights Of the people" and which will
undoubtedly make power cheaper:
The Myers water power bill is the running
n ate 81 me shelds BIZ. 1t was reported to
senate on ASa1HM e. as a committee sub