The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-15
THURSDAY MORNING, FEB. IS, 1917.
THOSE WATER POWER BILLS.

After the positive assurance OF our much esteemed
Helena morning contemporary that The entire
Montana delegation at Washington is strongly sup
porting and working for the passage OF the Myers
water power bill" we have been somewhat aston
shed TO read the recent interviews given out by Sem
ator Walsh and Congressman Evans and Stout that
they each opposed to the provisions Of the Myers
and Shields bills, and are in favor of the specific
provisions for recapture federal control and proper
charges to the lessee which constitute the funda-
mental differences between the senate bills and the
Ferris bill, which received the sanction of the house.
The differences of opinion between Senator
Walsh and Senator Myers on this matter are fully
set forth by the former in his authorized public
statement. which says:
"'rhe Myers bill provides that the charge
for use of power sites shall not exceed 25
cents per horse power. I consider this ri
diculously low Senator Smoot said the
provision was intended to express the views
of the senate public lands committee in it's
belief that the revenue derived by the lease
of power sites should merely pay for the ad-
mnistration of the act. l want the secre-
tary of the interior to have full authority to
arrange with the lessee what the charge will
be. Then the lessee will know what he will
have to pay.
AS to recapture the Myers bill provides
mat the property constituting the power
plant site shall be paid for, if it is recap
.tGred by the government at its then value,
which would give the lessee the 'unearned
increment l insist that the lessee at the
expiration of his lease should not get more
than the actual cost of the property. There
is no dispute over the life of the lease which
is fixed at 50 years.
In a recent article by the Washington correspond
en OF several western newspapers. the following also
appears
Washington, Feb. S-Congrcssmen Evans
and Stout stand for strict sa feguards Of the
rights of the public in any water power leg
lslation that may pass the present session of
congress. They voted for the Ferris bill
containing such safeguards when 1t passed
the house and they stand where they
stood at that time.
Il stand for a definite and unequivocal re-
capture clause said Congressman Evans
IF any water power legislation is passed be-
fore March L. want the principles of federal
control, proper charges to the lessee, easy
recapture conditions and tho right to take
the government property back it's cost to
the lessee recognized. We must protect the
heritage of posteriy against the depreda-
lions of water power monopolsts"
Congressman Stout expressed himself in
favor of the same principles Il have not
changed my views on water power legislation
since voted for the Ferris bill" he declared.
All Of which leads The Muscular to believe that
either Senator Walsh and the two congressman must
have changed their views on the Myers water power
bill. since the publication of the article in the indie
pendent. in which it took this newspaper so severy
to task for its lack Of knowledge about these water
power bills. Or else our Helena contemporary was
just kidding for the special edficaton of the
members of the legislature who had voted for the
memorial to congress- urging the immediate passage
Of water power legislation with no bill Of particu-
lars attached, which memorial was Immediately tele
graphed to Washington" at the states expense.
COOn MO\yC