Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-01-13

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least another year. Even though /,
special session OF congress should b,
called in the spring or summer IL 1!
doubtful whether the opposing fac
lions could agree on any compromise
plan that could be passed.
At present the conservation force.
OF the country particularly tina
branch Of them that has followed
Clifford Pinchot and his teachings, ant
water power interests and western
public sentiment appear as far apart
in their policies and desires as they
were durin gthe last republican ad
ministration. The Pinchoists have de
manded terms so severe that water
power and western interests generally
declare they would rather leave mat.
tiers as they now are and permit the
water powers to lie undeveloped than
to suffer the enactment Of harmful
and useless legislation.
The plan Of the conservationists is
embodied In the Adamson bill and that
OF the water power interests in the
Shields bill. The Adamson and
Shields bills respectively pass the
house and senate during last session
and have since been in conference.
Their provisions are so widely divir.
gent that all leaders have despaired
OF agreement and action.
Secretary OF the Interior Lane has
injected himself into the water power
fight because. as he said. he believes
water power legislation to be probably
the most vital consideration before
congress. and feels that some definite
action should have been taken long
ago. He has come forward with a
proposal that special commission be
created consisting OF the secretary of
war. the secretary OF agriculture and
the secretary of the interior. the com.
mission TO have power to regulate the
water power business and TO grant
leases of water power rights on both
public lands and navigable streams.
House leaders declare that body will
never agree to such a proposal.
Representative Kent of California is
one of the most corspcuous figures on
the house side In the contest for the
enactment OF laws permitting proper
development of the west. In recent
interviaw he told the Pacific News
Service correspondent that II would be
better to let the water power ques
ton wait awhile than to enact any
Legislation that would permit trusts TO
seize water power rights or permit
conservationists to seal up the DO
Lential utility Of the streams and wa.
Ter falls indefinitely. He desires to
drive middle course.
Mr.. Kent asserts that through
strong addition to old principles which
recognized private ownership of land
from the center of the earth TO the
surface has cost the people many pub
lie rights. Tradition, he said, has built
~ many prejudices about the owner
snip OF land which must be overcome.
de said vast tracts OF timberland are
Tastefully exploited by private inter.
ests because of legal protection and
hat the coal and petroleum resources
d the country have been sewed up for
he bentfit Of vested interests. Tn.
less the people take a strong stand for
The protection and the wise utility of
The streams these agencies of use
Iuiness also will be taken from them.
he holds the view that a mistake is
made when people say society rests
on the stability OF the land laws pro.
Iecting private property. He declares
The situation actually is reversed and |
that the land laws should rest on so.
ciety.