The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-01-31
NEW WATER POWER BILL
BACKED BY PRESIDENT
OPPOSES FEDERAL coMissIoN TO
LEASE AND CONTROL ALL
POWER SITES.

power IeBlSldtlOIl, anu iIdo III 6So WA
gress to pass a single bill laying down
principles upon which power may be
developed both on navigable streams
and on the public domain, something
IL likely to be accomplished this SEES
sion, for the president has put for
ward the administration water power
bill as war measures, and active
steps have been taken to get the bill
under way.
The president and the secretaries OF
war, interior and agriculture, have
gotten together, decided to abandon
both the Ferris bill and the Shields
BILL and In lieu Of those old and con-
tested bills, submitted an entirely new
proposition, which, however, embodies
many Of the old principles of the Fer
ris act. The bill Of course. will be
the subject of considerable criticism,
and some amendment of 1t is antici-
pated. However, at the present time
the measure as drafted by the admin
provisions are here reviewed in de-
tail:
Creates Power Commission.
The bill creates the federal power
commission, consisting of the secre-
taries OF war; agriculture and inter-
ior; authorizes the appointment of an
executive officer at $4,000, who will
be the active head of the new power
bureau A secretary at $4,000 and
such force Of attorneys, experts, clerks
authorized, but employees of the war,
interior and agriculture departments
may be detailed for service with the
power commission. An initial appro-
priation of 100000 is made to defray
the expenses of the commission.
Eight specific powers are conferred
upon the power commission.
1t shall:
Investigate and collect data on the
power industry and its relation to 9th
er sites to markets.
Cooperate with other government
bureaus in the collection of water
power data.
Make public information 1t gathers,
and report to congress annually.
Will Issue Licenses.
Issue licenses to citizens of the
United States, or any association of
citizens, or to any corporation, state
or municipality, for the purpose of
nan So onapatipo opd ,,,oi,+ IN
ing dams and power plants (which Ii
censes shall be irrevocable, except as
herein provided"
Issue preliminary permits to enable
applicants for license to make sur
veys and secure other necessary data.
Prescribe rules and regulations for
accounting and to keep tab on the
business accounts of licensees.
Hold hearings in connection with
the issuance of any permit.
Make all rules for carrying the act
into effect, provided they must not be
inconsistent with the terms of the
law.
Preliminary permits win be issued
to enable an applicant for license to
maintain priority for not more than
three years, during which time the APP
plicant must make his surveys, plans
estimates etc, on which he bases his
formal application for permit
For Term of so Years.
Each license will be issued for "a
period not exceeding so years." but on
termination of the license the permit
tee shall continue in undisturbed pos
session and use, under the terms pre-
scribed in the original license, until
a new license is issued, or until the
properties are taken over and COM
pensation is made
The commission may give prefer
nee to applications for licenses made
ny states and municipalities; "as be-
tween other applicants the commission
my give preference to the applicant
the plans of which it finds and deter
mines are best adapted to develop,
c nserve and utilize in the public in
terests, the navigation and water re-
sources of the region"
Licenses, IKE preliminary permits,
may not be transferred without au-
thority from the commission.
Applicants Must Submit Data.
An applicant for license must sub
NIT to the commission maps, plans,
specifications and other data explain
ing fully the plant he proposes to
build. together with evidence that he
has complied with the requirements
of state law and other data the COM
mission may require.
The commission, before issuing
license, must be satisfied that the pro-
ject is feasible and that it will be |
of the maximum benefit to navigation |
and develop the maximum amount of I
power possible at any given site. The !
licensee must maintain his works, If |
on a navigable stream, so as to not
impede navigation.
THE licensee shall pay to the Unit
ed States reasonable annual charges
in an amount to be fixed by the COM
mission. A schedule of annual rates
of charge. which rates shall in no case
be less than 10 cents per horsepower
per annum, shall be set forth in each h