The Washington herald., 1918-08-20
POWER PLANTS
TO OBEBOUGHT
/ sims PLAN
Tennessee Representative
Has Bill Empowering
President to Purchase
AID FAILING CONCERNS
President, Baker, Daniels,
Hurley and Baruch En-
4 dorse Measure.
$z0o, ,0oo, 900 TO BE PROVIDED
Reduction of Railroad Load by
Making Electricity at Mines
Feature of Proposal.
AID FAILING CONCERNS
szoo, ,ooo, 900 TO be PROVIDED

Complete authority over all the
power plants In the United States,
whether steam. hydraulic or electric.
Is to be conferred upon the President
by bill introduced in the House
yesterday by Representative Sims of
Tennessee. chairman Of the Water
Power Committee.
The bill would also authorize the
President to build steam power p,a:Iis
at the coal mines. thereby eliminating
the transportation OF coal. and TO
transmit the electrical energy there
generated to munition plants. ship
yards, and other manufacturing es-
Establishments where it might he need
ed.
Mr.. Sims says the bill has been er-
dorsed by President Wilson, Secretary
Baker, Secretary Daniels. Chairman
Hurley of the Shipping Board. and
Chairman Baruch of the War Indus
tries Board. The sum OF 20o.O0o. 90
Is asked of Congress to carry out the
provisions OF the bill.
There are four pressing needs
which emphasize tho fiecessity of
the proposed legislation, Mr.. Sims
said. in explanation Of the bill.
These are: o.
AaS <NN~o@s
!. Increased production OF power
svaiisb Bile for war Industries in ship-
yards.
2. Economy In the consumption OF
fuel.
,. Reduction in railroad freight
load, especially in the fuel load.
4. Increased production OF metal
lurgical coke. rtuluol and ammo
niacal liquor. all Of which are re-
covered from coal
Powers Of extreme breadth are
to be conferred upon the President
by tho bill. 1t empowers him TO
construct or acquire power plants
and transmission lines and Incl
dental property necessary for the
production of material and COM
modities essential to the national
defense. Incidental property in
ciudes "all machinery. construction.
appliances. land or water struc-
lures. dams. reservoirs, rights OF
way. real property. mill rights,
water or riparian rights. coal rights
and any other public or private
rights OF interest"
May Buy OF Help.
The President may either take
possession OF privately owned plants
or extend to them financial aid to
help them develop more power,
Plants which may be taken over
will be paid for under q compensa-
ton section. which provides that af-
ter the price has been Determined
by the President. il there should
be a dispute as to the price fixed,
75 per cent of the amount Is to be
paid and the balance due is to be
adjudicated in the court OF claims.
we are facing q power shortage
which Is now and has been for some
time very acute" Mr.. Simms said in
reference to the bill. This shortage
is hampering our program OF essen
tia1 war production and this meas
ure authorizing the President to
erect superpower stations at the
coal mines and other points where
he may deem necessary, or to ex-
tend financial aid to persons or cor
porations about to do so. is designed
to obtain results OF tremendous i'm
mediate and ultimate value to
America.
Highly Endorsed.
"Ths bill 10 introduced with the
Endorsement of the administration
has been very carefully prepared,
has been considered in conference
with executive officers Of the gov.
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.