The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-04

fifty years Is about right. Some want
the plant to become government
property automatically at the end of
the life period, and some want the
government to have only an option
to take 1t over then II the govern.
ment pleases; there is no strong OPP
position to either of these plans.
Some want the recapture of the plant
at the end OF the life period to be
without recompense, with resulting
higher power rates during its life to
provide for its amortization. and some
want lower rates during its life and
its purchase at the end OF the permit
there is only slight dispute about
the price to be paid being the actual
investment of real money. There Is
some dispute about whether the gov
eminent, IL 1t takes over the plant,
should pay only for the dam. power
house and Jock, or whether 1t should
also buy the transmission lines and
other parts not actually in the river,
but absolutely necessary to opera
ton; this dispute ought not to last
Long. All other points not agreed up
on can be settled in twenty minutes
by any two good businessmen across
flat top desk.
The real barrier to water power de-
velopment in this country is that
proviso that at any time in the future
the secretary Of war may order built
at company cost any kind OF lock
he may designate, not in advance,
but at any time within half century
The senate passed the Shields bill
and the house passed the Adamson
bill. Both are technically in confer
ence. They are as much alike as
piccaninny and papoose. The Ad-
amson bill is absolutely prohibitive
OF investment, even wildly specula-
tive, in water power developme emit
The Shields bill needs a little polish
ing in details in the public interest,
not Sc much apparent now, but On
the principle OF safety first The
Greater Des Moines committee, il it
were the conferees of the senate and
house, could agree upon an excellent
bill in half day which would make
an excellent law, by insisting only on
concrete essentials and compromising
on theoretical minor details.
AS always, the basic trouble lies
beneath the present status. 1t lies in
the well known characteristics of
congress. About ten years ago. con-
gress decided that it would not grant
any more water power permits until
it had passed general regulatory
law, like the general bridge bill, bring
ing all under one uniform, conserva-
tive mantle of which
was eminentIy sensible and safe.
Then congress determined that 1t
would not pass a general water pow
er bill until 1t had fully informed IT
self on the entire complex subject
avid yn<>Sf.
ton to take. Then it made no real
effort to inform itself on the subject,
or to study the matter at all; there
are exceptions among senators and
representatives, and these exceptions
are now In harmony about what
should be done. Also. the personnel
Of the house changes much every
two years and some new members are
apt to rant most about things they
understand least and to pose as
champions of the dear people by swat
ting capital indis criminately. The
result of these conditions is that the
informed students of the matter in
congress, of both parties and in both
houses, progressives and old guard.
are trying hard to pass a good water
power bill and do it now. They have
about as much chance Of success as
the newspapers have OF getting a
reasonable price on print paper.
They may succeed before congress
adjourns and pour the beans all over
the floor again. They may not. Since
it takes about four or five years for
ar intelligent man, trained in investi-.
CATION and economies and engineer
ing, to learn all about the water pow
er conditions in the United States,
there is little chance of the public
mind ever crystalizing in fixed
opinion and compelling fair and quick
action by congress.
In the meantime, many rivers, hav-
ing power enough to divert millions
OF tons Of coal from steam engine
furnaces to other uses, are laughing
ly flowing embarrassed to the sea,
which continues to smile at mere
mans slowness and impotency in
really big things.