New-York tribune., 1918-02-06
Asks Referendum
On Development
Of Water Power
Chamber of Commerce of
u. S. Submits ReporG
to Members

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.--Thc Cham
bcr of Commerce of the United States
to-day sent referendum to it's
$50 commercial organization members
throughout the country on the ques-
ton of the passage of legislation by
Congress for the development of the
vast water power resources of the
United States.
special committee of the chamber
has recommended the enactment of
such legislation after an inquiry into
t he subject
More than half million American
business men in chambers of COM
merce throughout the country will! vote
on the question. The vote will be.
taken on the basis of the recommends
tions OF the special committee, Of
Which the chairman is l.. S. Gillette,
engineer and manufacturer, of Mime
apolls. The committees reconmenda.
lions will be accepted or rejected by
vote of all the organizations. Every
ballot sent out is accompanied by ar
Guments for both the affirmative and
negative, to insure impartial Judgment
on the question. The recommendations
are:
IL That Federal legislation en-
couraglng the development of water
powers should be at once enacted.
2.-As to all developments, whether
"lthln or outside the public domain,
separate act of Congress should not. as
at present, be required for each devcl-
opment. but the authority to issue
permits should be vested in some de-
partment or commission designated for
that purpose and under conditions pro-
tectlvc of the interest of the public
and of the investor
3.-Permits should be issued for a
period of at least fifty years, unless a,
the option of the applicant a shorter
period IS agreed upons and should be
.lrrcvocablc except for cause.
"4.-A toll should be imposed by The
government only on power devclor-
mcntss on the public domain or beno-
fitted by headwater improvements main
tanned by the government. Such tolls
should be based upon the horsepower
actually developed, used and sold. The
tolls should be reasonable and proper.
uonate to the benefits actually derived.
"5.--lf public lands form only a
small and incidental part of the entire
development, the licensee should be en-.
titled to acquire the right to use such
lands, paying the government fair and
Just compensation for such use
"6--At the expiration of the license
period the government should have the
right to recapture the property for it.
self or for a new licensee upon the
payment of fair and just compensation
for the property and for all dependent
property, if taken; and it the depend
cnt property is not taken, then fair
and Just compensation should be paid
tor all severance damages. Provision
should be made that, all things being
equal. the original licensee have pri-
orlty over any new licensee
AT the expiration of the license
period the government should 0N
agree with the licensec as to the
terms of a new license, CD recapture
Tor itself or for new license. (3] con-
tinue the license under the original
terms. ''
"s- Rates and service should be
regulated by state commissions where
me service IS intrastatc, and only by
Federal authority where the service is
Interstate. and the commissions of the
states which are directl yconcerncd do
not agree or there is no state com.
missi ion.
"the exercise Of any Federal iuris-
diction over the issuance Of sccnr;t;os 's
would ne unnecessary and unuise
"9 - No preference should ho .,
lowed as between applicants whethnr n.
IA municipality or otherwise wt;ch vt';e,
amounts to the granting at the ,xnansn or1.n
OF the government of a subsidy crcat-
market" WV SAINT