Evening star., 1918-01-27
WATER POWER BILL
PROTECTS PUBLIC RIGHTS
Clifford Pinchot Urges EARLY Pas
sage Of the Measure Now Pend
ing in Congress.
To the Editor Of Ihs star,

To the Editor Of Ths star,
Tho twelve-year Tight to keep the
nations water power from capture by
the power monopolists is at last on
the verge Of being won. The admin
istration water power bill. now before
Congress. opens the way to save for
the people of tho United States their
most valuable asset Some fifty mil
lion water horsepower is at stake.
The bill in question was formulated
under tho direction of the Secretary
OF Agriculture. the Secretary of War
and the Secretary of the Interior: was
submitted to the President for his ap-
proval. and recently put forward as
an administration measure. It deals
with water power in national forests.
public lands, Indian lands and naviEa-
BILE streams A special committee Of
the House has been created to con-
slider 1t.
1t is an admirable measure, drawn
with thorough knowledge and unusual
skill. The principles essential for the
wise use and development OF our pub
lie water powers in the public interest
are all embodied in 1t.
In my letter to you of November 16
1917. l urged your support of tho fol-
lowing seven definite principles in
water power legislation:
l. The thing to do with water power
Is to develop 1t. Whatever retards or
restricts the development Of public
water powers on terms fair to the pub
lie is against public policy and hostile
to the general welfare.
z. Water power belongs to the pso-
pie. The sites where It 10 produced
should always be held in public hands,
for only so can effective control in the
general interest be secured.
3; Where public development 10 not
| desired the right to use water power
sites should be leased for periods long
enough to permit sound, attractive and
profitable investment. but never longer
than fifty years. AT tho end Of each
lease all rights should return to the
peonle who gave them.
4. In order to protect tho consumer
against extortion, rates and service
should be regulated by federal author
ity- when state or local authorities
fail to do so.
.. Reasonably prompt and oomplste
development and continuous operation,
subject to market conditions. should
be required. Already millions Of water
horsepower are held out Of use to fur
ther monopoly by private corporations.
G. Corporations or individuals who
make money out Of rights granted by
| the people should share their proflts
with the people.
:. The public has a right to complete
| information about every business based
on the use of public property
1t is a real pleasure to tell you that
| every one of these principles Is fully
| safeguarded in the administrations
| water power bill. What remains, there-
| fore, is fer Congress to put this meas
| ure through without delay.
The administration water power bill
will first come before the House Of
| Representatives. where an effort will
| certainly be made to amend 1t in the
| interest of the power interests. II that
| fails the water power lobbyists will
| endeavor to have the fndefensible pro-
| visions Of the Shields bill substituted
| in the Senate for the administration
| bill. Beaten in that, they will fall back
upon the formula of obstruction and
| delay they have used so successfully
| for the last ten years.
This measure is practical, fair and
| wise. The friends of conservation
| should insist that their friends in Con-
gress shall give their prompt and full
| support to the administration water
power bill, and shall see to 1t that IL
is passed without emasculatfon, substt-
tuition or postponement. It is Of vital
interest to our country while the war
is on, and will be equally important
after the war 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 safer and
| a better place to live in. All the forces
Of conservation are behind 1t. l urge
you to give the administration water
power bill your strongest approval and
support. CLIFFORD PINCHOT.