New-York tribune., 1918-03-27
Business Urges Use
Of Nationwide Power
u. S. Chamber Of Commerce
Asks Congress to Make Pro-
visions for Utilizing Un-
touched Resources
VOUEnCU NGSOUrCeS

WASHINGTON. D. c.. March 2e-
oy sweeping majorities 100000 busi-
ness executives, who comprise the mem
bershlp CT the United States Chamber
OF Commerce, have adopted resolutions
caillng on Congress to make provision
lor harnesslng the millions in water
horsepower that now run Wild
Inc vote was taken through the more
ehan LOCO commercial organizations
throughout the country which compose
the national chamber. Fortv-ive
states. Alaska and Hawaii participated
IN the balloting, representing a wide
range OF industrial interests and opin-
IONS and reliably indicating to Con-
gress how the business men of the
nation look on the water power situa-
Ilon. Each voting organization cast
from one to ten votes, depending on its
membership
The balloting was based on a series of
recommendattonS contained in the re-
port OF the committee on waterpower
devciopment of the United States
ohamoer OF Commerce. These recon-
nendations were presented in the fol-
lowing order:
ing the development of water powers
shouId at once be enacted-adopted by
the almost unanimous vote of 1924 to 6.
=. mat authority to grant permits
should be vested in an administrative
department carried by a vote of 1858
to II.
8: That the permit period should be
at at least nifty years, any shorter period
oeing at the applicants option. In
favor l,216, opposed A.
T. That tolls should attach only to
use Of public lands or benefits de-
rived from head-water improvements.
Adopted by vote of 1,1911z to 4O1s.
s. That permittees should be en-
,itled to acquire the right to use pub
nc lands forming only a small and
Incidental part Of the development.
Carried by vote of 1910 to 25.
.. That recapture should be exer-
clsed only upon payment of fair and
Just compensation. In favor 1924, op.
2. That if recapture is not exer-
cised, the investment of the permit
tee should be adequately rejected.
Adopted by vote 1926 to 26.
8. That rates and service should be
regulated by state commissions where
the service is intrastate, with federal
regulation only where several states
are directly concerned and do not
agree, or there is no state commits
sion. Carried by vote of LII to ST.
8. That if any jurisdiction to regu-
late the issuance of securities is exer-
cised it should be solely by the state.
In favor Lila, opposed III.
10. That no preference should be
granted as between applicants amount
ing TO subsidy from the gove rnment
creating unequal competition. Adopted
by vote of ,191 to 3S.
The committee which drew up the
report and presented the resolutions
was composed as follows:
L. S. Gillette, chairman, engineer
and manufacturer, Minneapolis; Harry
A. Black, wholesale merchant, Calves
ton; Rome G. Brown, lawyer Mime
apolis; Henry S. Drinker. President,
Lehigh University; Frank P. Glass,
editor-in-chicf, The Birmingham News;
Z. X. Hall. lawyer. New York City;
Horace c. Henry, retired railroad con-
tractor, Seattle; Henry l.. McCune,
lawyer. Kansas City; Samuel V. Stew
art, lawyer and banker, Virginia City,
Mont, and governor of Montana;
George F. Swain, civil engineer, Bos-
ton; and C. F. Weed, lawyer and
banker, Boston.
In order to secure the adequate de-
tial that the subject should be ap-
preached with an attitude of mind
which recognizes the necessity of max
ing such developments attractive to
capital, rather than with that attitude
which assumes that such enterprises
should be surrounded with as many re-
strictions as possible, according to the
committees report.
The conservation Of every other nat
ural resource means restriction in its
use. for use means consumption and
permanent destruction. Every pound
Of coal burned is forever withdrawn
from use. On the other hand, every
horsepower of waterpower not used is
lost, and every horsepower conserved
and used saves not only the horsepower
but its equivalent in coal and may in
cidentally improve navigation. The
task of this committee has been to out
line the essentials of fair contract
which shall fully protect the interests
of the public and at the same time shall
make water power projects sufficiently
attractive to secure their DEVELOPMENT.