The Washington herald., 1918-01-27
PIRCHOT SEES VICTORY.
Probable Success of Water Power
Bill Encourages Him.

To the Editor The Washington
Herald: Ghe /. year fight 10 keep
the nations water power from cap
ture by the power monupOlists is at
last on the verge OF being won. The
administration water power bill. now
before Congress, opens the way to
save for the people Of the United
States their most valuable natural
asset. Some 100000 water-horse-
power is at stake.
The bill in question WAS formulated
under the 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. II deals
with water power in national forests.
public lands, Indian lands. and navi-
gable streams. A special committee of
the House has been created to con-
slider it.
II 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 inter
est are all embodied in it,
In my letter 10 you OF November 1s,
1917. urged your support Of the fol-
lowing seven definite principles in
water-power legislation:
!. The thing TO do with water power
is to develop it, Whatever retards
or restricts the development OF public
water powers on terms fair TO The
public is against public policy and
hostile TO the general welfare.
=. Water power belongs TO tho Pco-
pie. The sites where ii is produced
should always be held in public hands,
for only SO can effcciiy" control in
the general interest bc secured.
:. Where public devclopmen, is not
desired. the right To Use water poweT
sites should be leased for periods LONG
enough TO permit sound. attractive.
and profitable investment, hut never
longer than n years. At the end Of
each lease all rights should return
TO the people who gave them.
4. In order TO protect tho consumer
against extortion, rates and service
should he re- ulated by Federal author
ity when States or local authorities
fail to do so.
5. Reasonably PROMPT and com
plete development and continuous
operation. subject to market condi-
tions, should be required. Already
milliops of water-horsepower are held
out OF use TO further monopoly by
private corporations.
6. Corporations or individuals who
make money out of rights granted 10y
the people should share their profits
with the people.
Z. The public has a right to COM
plete information about every busi-
ness based on the use of public prop
erty.
1t is a real pleasure to tell you that
every one of these principles is fully
safeguarded in the administratiun's
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
Representatives, where an effort will
certainly be made TO amend it in the
interest OF the power interests. II that
fails, the water-power lobbyists will
endeavor to have the indefensible pro-
visions of the Shields bill substituted
in the Senate for the administration
bin. Beaten in that, they will fall
back upon the formula OF obstruction
and delay they have used 50 success
fully for the last 10 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 20 the administration
water-power bill. and shall see TO II
that it is passed without emascula-
tion. Substitution, or postponement IL
IL OF vital interest TO our country while
the was is on. and will he 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 Sood OF