The Washington times., 1918-03-24


. The qeustion: Who ought to
own the earth, and II 50, when? is
nearly always incidental to some
thing in the days proceedings Of
Congress. The answer which might
be inferred from the Senate's routine
Of military bills Il. e. the suru-
vors'O was less attractive than that
pictured for the "hydro-electric age"
before the House Committee on In
terstate Commerce.
II appears in testimony that when
the hydro-electric age does arrive
we will have cheap car fare, better
water, light enough at night without
saving daylight, power In the house
to run the sewing and washing ma
chimes, cheap news print paper, and
nitrogen enough manufactured from
the air Tor fertilizer to bring eroiled
bacon and French fried potatoes
seven days q week in reach OF faml-
lies with poor but honest parents.
As the realization Of this last
prophecy Of hydro-electric wonders
may seem hard to imagine, It Is
especially supported by q table OF
statistics, showing the relations OF
the present acreage production OF
Irish potatoes and other Injuries to
possibilities in easy reach when by
touching a button and starting the
hydro-electric nitrogen machines the
air will. begin supplying fertilizer
enough so to enrich the earth that
poverty will be abolished-"at least
to some extent"
II appears that the only difficulty
in giving this an early start Is tne
timidity Of capital, waiting to be en-
Outraged to seek investment. AT
present Government ownership Ii
a fact for nearly all the running wa
ter that Is to supply the power for
the Alladins Of the hydro-electric
age to work with. As far as the peo-
ple of the United States own the
Government, they may not own the
earth, but they have a legal title TO
most of the running water at any
rate.
The immediate question is how fai
this title has been mortgaged Al
ready, and Of how much is left. Vi
this point the House committee wa:
enlightened by Mr.. E. K Hall, Of
. the committee on water power OF TIN
| National Chamber Of Commerce. HI
I said it was q mistake when askeS
IL about twenty great corporations
now control the developed and har
messed water power OF the countr!
in use for producing hydro-electric
ity. As he corrected the estimate Q
ownership through ~interiocdng di
rectorates" and otherwise, he fount
il had been officially reported tina
eighteen companies furnished 81 pc
cent of the hydro-electric power use
in municipal and other forms Of pub
lie service, while eighty-five corpor
atoms furnish 6S per cent OF al
power, both steam and electric, USE
IN public service.
Under the bill being considered de
velopment is expected to take plac'
under fifty-year leases. The opinion
was expressed that in fifty year
public ownership Of public utilities
will be so we'll established that Their
need be no fear Of renewing tn,
leases Of private corporations whicl
expect Tor are expected) to secur'
them now. Some Of them are 81
timid now that If they expect publ,
ownership after fifty years their cap
ital will not work. Others, however
think that with fifty years uDdis
turbed possession they can leav'
something worth while behind them
even if they survive long enough t,
be compelled to let go. Mr.. Hal
gave the interesting opinion that, re
CARELESS Of what Is done in Wash
ington, corporations securing lease