New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-02-02
THE WATER POWER BILL.

! iSdpIuIe ny Tue power mOuOpUIIst
is at last ON the verge Of -bein
won. The Administration Waite
Power Bill, now before Congress
opens the way to save for the pee
pie of the United States thei
most valuable natural asset. Som
fifty million water horsepower j
at stake.
The bill in question was formn
lated under the direction of th'
Secretary Of Agriculture, the See
retary Of War. and the Secretar,
Of the Interior, was submitted tt
the President for his approval
and recently put forward as ar
administration measure. 1t deals
with water power in Nationa
Forests. public lands, Indian
lands, and navigable streams. A
special COMMITTEE of the House
has been created to consider it.
/ 1t is an admirable measure
drawn with thorough knowledge
and unusual skill. The principles
essential for the wise use and de-
velopment Of our public water
powers in the public interest are
all embodied in it. Y
i, my letter to you of Ndvem-
Der 16, 1917, | urged your support
of the following seven definite
principles in water power legisla-
tion:
GD The thing to do with
| water power is to develop it.
Whatever retards or restricts the
development Of public water pow
ers on terms fair to the public is
against public policy and hostile
to the general welfare.
(2) Water power belongs to
the people. The sites where it is
produced should always be held
in public hands, for only SO can
effective control in the general
interest be secured.
(3) Where public development
is not desired, the right to use
water power sites srould be leased
for periods long enough to per
nit sound, attractive, and prof
table investment, but never long,
er than fifty years. AT the 1d}
of each lease all rights should re-
turn tothe people who gave them.
(4) In order to protect the
against extortion. rates
and service should be regulated
by Federal authority when State
or local authorities faid to do so.
(5) Reasonably prompt and
complete development and con-
,inuous operation, subject to mar
ket conditions, should be re-
luired. Already millions Of
water horsepower are held out Of
lse to further monopoly by private
CO. Corporations or individuals
Who make money out of rights
'ranted by the people should share ,
heir profits witr the people.
CD The public has right TO-,
information about every ,
BUSINESS based on the use Of pub
ic property.
Ut is a real pleasure to tell yo1
hat every one of these principles
S fully safeguarded in the Ad-
Illustrations Water Power Bill.
What remains, therefore. is for
congress to put this measure
through without delay.
The Administration Water
'ower Bill will first come before !
he House of Representatives,
vhere an effort will certainly be ,
aade to amend it in the interest
+ the power interests. If that
ails, the water power lobbyists
ill endeavor to have the indie 5
ensible provisions of the Shields
ill substituted in the Senate for &,
he Administration bill. Beaten
4 that. they will fall back upon g
he formula of obstruction and
clay they have used so success !,
lily for the last ten years. T
This measure is practical, fair, :
nd wise. The friends of Conser- =
alton should insist in their !.
.iends in Congress shall give >
reir prompt and full support to r
le Administration Water Power
i'll, and shall see to it that it is
assed without emasculation, suD-
tuition. or postponement 1t is f,
vital interest to our country T