Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-27
WATERPOWER| mus.
URGENTLY NEEDED
View of Senator Jones Of
Washington in Plea for
Development.
GREAT RESOURCES WASTED

The immediate need OF water-power
legislation. permitting the rapid de-
velopment Of the great water-power
resources of this country. was urged
upon the Senate today by Senator Jones
of Washington.
"The development Of our water power
nable in time Of war. commercially
dominant in time Of peace" said Sem
ator Jones. "Impregnable in time Of
war through furnishing the energy re-
quired for production Of explosives and
munitions. for operations of railroads.
and in thousand ways in the conduct
Of hostilities, thus releasing our man
power for army and navy.
Commercially dominant in time OF
peace through furnishing energy for
industrial activities electrical and
electro-chemical processes. for trans
rortation. for agriculture and for the
innumerable things into which the use
of power enters in the daily life Of our
citizens"
Quotes President Wilson.
Senator Jones called attention to the
fact that the President, in his address
to Congress at the opening Of the pres
ent session, had asked that water
power legislation be enacted without
delay. along with measures for the
prosecution of the war. He said the
Senate had acted promptly and put
through a bill, which has for months
been before House committee. The
house appointed a special water-power
committee to handle the proposed leg
islation.
For ten long years." he said. ire
strictive federal water power laws have
prevented the utilization of the energy
contained in our descending waters.
This mighty resource has been ellowcd
to waste while enormous quantities OF
coal and oil have been taken from the
increasing demands for electric energy.
which during the last decade has in
creased six-fold.
Believes in Plain Talk.
"a little plain talk will not hurt US.
I am not driving at any party or at
those who have the direction of the ma
tion's affairs in their hands. But / am
finding fault with Congress for holding
up water power development for the
past ten years by unreasonable and in
defensfble projects Of regulation SO
drastic in their nature as to frighten
of any sane investor, and now we are
suffering the penalty of sloth. The de-
veinpmept Of. water powers IL pioneer
work Of a hazardous nature. Capital
| therefore. will not invest nor men put
In. their time IN hydro-electric develop
ment except upon q basis which. SO far
as government requirements are con-
cerned. will at least not jeopardize the
investment or prevent fair return
thereon"
Country's Needs Cited.
"The time has come when the country
needs the force and energy contained
in its wasting water powers to supple
ment its man power, and the penalty
of delay is enforced by fate against the
unready. Let us put the blame where
it belongs. The fault is with Congress
and with Congress alone. 1t is the law
making body"
Senator Jones said that if Congress
had enacted water-power legislation
five years ago, the country would be
far more efficient today in the prose-
cution of the war. He said Germany
and Austria have developed SO per
cent of their water power, while the
United States has developed not mere
than 10 per cent.