New-York tribune., 1918-01-28
A Model Water Power Bill
New Administration Measure Heartily
Endorsed by Clifford Pinchot
To tho Editor Of Tho Tribune.

10 tho Editor Of Tho Tribune.
Sir: The twclve-year fight to keep the ma
tions water power from capture by the power
monopoIists is at last on the verge Of being
won. Tho Administration water power bill,
now before Congress, opens the way to save
for the people Of tho United States their
most valuable natural asset. Some fifty mill
ion water horsepower Is at stake.
The bill in question was formulated under
the direction Of the Secretary Of Agriculture,
tho Secretary Of War and the Secretary Of
the Interior. was submitted to the President
for his approval and recently put forward as
an Administration measure. 1t deals with
water power in national forests public lands,
Indian lands and navigablo streams. spe
cial committee Of the House has been created
to consider it.
1t is an admirable measure, drawn with
thorough knowledge and unusual skill. The
principles essential for the wise use and de-
velopmcnt Of our public water powers in the
public interest arc all embodied in it.
In my letter to you Of November 1G, 1917,
urged your support of the following seven
definite principles in water power lcgisla-
tion:
Cd The thing to do with water power is to
develop it. Whatever rctards or restricts
the development Of public water powers on
terms fair to the public is against public pol
icy and hostile to tho general welfare.
(2) Water power belongs to tho people.
The sites whore it is produced should always
be held in public hands, for only SO can cf-
fective control in the general interest be Sc
cured.
(3) Where public development is not de-
sired, the right to use water power sites
should be leased for periods long enough to
permit sound, attractive and profitable in
vcstment, but never longer than fifty years.
At the end Of each lease all rights should re-
turn to the people who gave them.
(O In order to protect the consumer
against extortion, rates and service should be
regulated by Federal authority when state or
local authorities fail to do so.
CO. Reasonably prompt and complete de-
vclopmcnt and continuous operation, subject
to market conditions, should be required.
Already millions Of water horsepower arc
vatc corporations.
CD Corporations or individuals who make
money out of rights granted by the people
should share their profits with the people.
CD The public has right to complete in
formation about every business based on the
use of public property.
1t is real pleasure to tell you that every
one of these principles is fully safeguardcd
in the Administrations water power bill.
What remains, therefore, is for Congress to
put this measure through without delay.
The Administration water power bill will
first come before the House Of Representa-
tives, where an effort will certainly be made
to amend it in the interest of the power in
tercsts. If that fails, the water power lobby
lists will endeavor to have the indcfensblc
provisions OF the Shields bill substituted in
the Senate for the Adminst alton bill.
Beaten in that, they will fall back upon the
formula of obstruction and delay they have
used so success fully for the last ten years.
This measure is practical, fair and wise.
The friends of conservation should insist that
their friends in Congress shall give their
prompt and full support to the Administra
ton water power bill, and shall see to it that
it is passed without cmasculation, substitu-
tion postponemcnt. 1t is Of vital interest
to our country while the war is on and will
be equally important after the is over
The passage Of this law will secure to the
American people forever vast resources whose
Use for the good Of all will make this land a
safer and a better place to live in. All the
forces of conservation arc behind it, ] urge
you to give the Administration water power
bill your strongest approval and support
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.
ION