Imperial Valley press., 1918-01-16
FERRIS BILL To
Z CONFLICT WITH
JOHNSON ACT
STATESMAN WANTS
TO PLACE WATER POWER
SITES OF COLORADO AT THE
DISPOSAL OF A FEDERAL CON-

, Bill Would Divert the Money Re-
ce0ived From the Sale of Power to
the Reclamation Service, for Use
of That Branch of the Government
as 1t Saw Fit.
BY bill introduced in the house of
Representatives by Representative
Ferris of Oklahoma, the national pow
er resources of the United States may
be developed and directed to various
uses for the benefit of the reclamation
service of the nation rather than the
corporations that have already grab
bed large percentage of the easily
available water power sites
The essential features of the meas
ure are carried in the appended Sec
tions:
Section 8. That for the occupancy
and use Of lands and other property
of the United States permitted under
this act the secretary of the interior
is authorized to specify in the lease
and to collect charges or rentals
which charges or rentals in all cases
where the power is generated and de-
veloped in whole or in part upon lands
belonging to the United States may
be measured by the power so develop
ed and sold or used by the lessee for
any purpose other than the operation
of the plant in developing power, and
the proceeds shall be paid into, re-
served, and appropriated as a part of
the reclamation fund created by the
act of congress approved June II,
! 1902, known as the Reclamation Act,
and after use thereof in the construc-
ton of reclamation works and upon
return to the reclamation fund of any
such moneys in the manner provided
by the Reclamation act and acts
9 amendatory thereof and supplemental
, thereto, fifty per centum of the
.. amounts so utilized in and returned to
the reclamation fund shall be paid by
the secretary of the treasury after
the expiration of each fiscal year to
the state within the boundaries of
which the hydroelectric power or en-
.. ergy is generated and developed, said
moneys to- be used by such state or
Subdivisions there for the construc-
tion and maintenance of public roads
or for the support of public schools or
other public educational institutions
or for the construction of public i'm
provements, as the legislature of the
state may direct: Provided, that
leases for the development of power
by municipal corporations solely for
municipal use shall be issued without
, rental charges, and that leases for de-
yelopment of power not in excess of
twenty-five horsepower may be issued
to individuals or associations for do
mestic, mining, or irrigation use with
out such charge.
To Act For States
Section 9. That in case of the de-
yelopment, generation, transmission,
or use of power or energy under a
lease given under this act wholly with
in state which has not provided a
commission or other authority having
power to regulate rates and service of
electrical energy and the issuance of
stocks and bonds by public utility cor
. porations engaged in power develop
ment, transmission and distribution,
the control Of service and of charges
for service to consumers and stock
. and bond issues shall be vested in the
secretary of the interior or commit
ted to such body as may be authorized
by federal statute until such time as
the state shall provide a commission
or other authority for such regulation
and control: Provided, that the control
, Of the secretary of the interior, or
, other federal authority, shall cease
, and determine as to each specific man.
ner of control described in this sec
tion as soon as the state shall have
provided commission or other auth
ority for the regulation and control
of that specific matter.
Nation to Reserve Rights
, Section 10. That where the secre-
tary of the interior shall determine
that the value of any lands heretofore
or hereafter reserved as water power
sites or for purposes in connection
Y with water power development or elec-
v trical transmission will not be materi-
I ally injured for such purposes by eth
: er location, entry or disposal, the
I same may be allowed under applicable
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