The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-13
xIAoARA,s POWER.

NIAcARA,s POWER.
Good Prospect For . Final ssttisnent
Of . Troublesome Question.
WASHINGTON. July f2.-whsn Chair
man Flood Of the House Foreign AZ
fairs Committee recently brought up
a resolution once more to extend the
provisions Of the Burton law govern
Ing. under a treaty. tho diversion Of
water from Niagara Falls he patient
ly met the familiar ignorance OF the
fact that the diversion Ii authorized
by the Root-Bryce treaty Of 1903 and
not by Federal statute. Even Repre-
sentative STAFFORD, serving his seventh
term in the House, demanded why
Mr.. Flood did not await the passage
Of some water power legislation that
will Internationally cover the water
power In Niagara River"
Chairman Flood explained as he has
been explaining for years that as the
diversion Of any water from bound
airy river Is a matter necessarily au-
thorized by treaty, general legislation
would not apply in the ease Of Nj
agara River. The surprise 10 all the
greater that an old member should
have to be 30 informed when II II
considered that the general sub
ject of Niagara Falls water diversion
has been a matter Of international
discussion for nearly half a century;
that large development Of water
power through such diversion made
the oa,estion acute "A long ago as
1895: that the use of the share of the
United States Of the treaty. allotted d.
version has reoeiyed much attention
from Congress in nearly every session
since 1905 following the Burton linn
tied act and the several extensions of
IFS provisions bv such resolution as
Mr. Flood recentlv mt through
REPRESENTATIVE London displayed as
great obtusenesa as did STAFFORD. but
his inexnerlence exnlains II II does
not excuse this perfectly character
istic question.
"Mr. Iondon--J IN mt like this
lext.lation, Somebow thew bring in
all this water mower Hesitation at
moment ana vou do not get a chance
10 discuss n M all Won do not know
what II ia all about. sent for a
conv NJ the hearings and there have
been No hearings although II Ia a
water comnanv matter ana some
water nower lep,slation ha. had the
effect NJ .mearinp over the men who
have been battling NTH II
"Mr rIooa-Wsu Mr. Sneaker n
Won want IN hreak I'm an AGGREGATION
of ,ndustr,es that ara sunp,vinx neces-
stiles for this war I would saw that
vor want m onnose this leais,ation,
Now the gentleman from New York
cNr Iondon, is ent,reL, wrons
ahout mo bearings we havs had
hearing, for three weeks
"Mr Iondon-J ..ked for N con>
and thew told me there was no hear
inc on This resolution
|. "Mr Flood--Tnere u,ere mt nm mi,
re.olut,on but an the narmanen,
measure h.for. n. committee. and
This resolution 1. merely an extsn.,or
Of the Iaw that wa have nassed twic,
lh.sore for the nurnose Of aIIouvine
the.e neon,e 20 "a IN and utilize mi,
water that would o,haru,t.a 90 ,o
waste in order IN tall. eIec,r,,
.ner,v ond carry IN uar actiy,tias "
| with this revaIatior NJ oN,c,a
isnoranca con.iaa,aa a. q. not rL
able that there should he some con.
fusion in the nnh,ic mind as IN m,
status NJ tho whole question involved
which hr,eav q. this.
The Root-Rrvca treaty. nrovided IN,
a diversion from above tho falls 10,
water mower nurnoses bv This coun.
try Of 90 600 cubic feet Of water 8
second. bv Canada Of 8S. 900 cubic fee,
NJ water a second The Secretary n,
War Under the nroyis,on Of the Rur.
ton act issued permits for the diver
sion on the American side of tn,
! river Of 1bs00 cubic feet a second
but that act expired by Limitation
July 1. 1909 and has been extended
from time To time while Congress ha,
labored through attacks by scenic
conseryationists. and under misunder
standings with New York State off
Gals TO produce n permanent Law
governing the whole matter. II wa,
| nroved that tha divers,ons a,,owed n,