The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-10
Federal Control of Projects
Designed to Lessen the
Demand for Fuel
WILSON EXPECTED
TO SUPPORT BILL
Commission to Garry Out Provisions to
Include Three Cabinet Oficials-De
signed to Incorporate Features of
Other Measures.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l0.-The adj
mlnlstration has prepared a bill Great
ing what is to be known as the FEEDER.
al power commission, having board and
general powers over all water power
projects, through which control of all
water power projects in the country
Will he taken over by the government
eventually. The bill has been sent to
the President by the secretaries Of war.
interior and agriculture, who drew it
III, and is predicted by them to be the
instrument which will result in early
water power development of power and
III considerably lessening the demand
for fuel and for the transportation of
heavy fuels.
he cabinet members who drew the
bill will be members of the commits
sion when the bill becomes law. The
measure will go to the Capitol tomor.
row and a special rule will be proyid.
ell making it an order for early con.
Sideration. The President will stand
behind the measure and an effort will
be made to rush it through as speedily
, as possible.
The salient features Of the bin are
as follows:
\ commission Of three with large
| powers is formed
1t IS proposed to lease the water
| power privilege for period of moi ex-
ceedng fifty years, after which any
| project may be taken over bv the
/ mted States or may be released to
the original lcssee> or to a new lessee
| 1t IS proposed that ut the end of thc
leasehold period any project NAV be
taken over as follows: All property
owned 10y any licenses which is yaln.
| able IN the development or distribu-
'loh OF power with any locks or con
Hrueted aids to NAVIGATION. upon paw
/ meht OF 1.-The fair value not TO exceed
actual cost Of the prop rty taken. plus
I such reasonable severance damages if
laHY,~as may be caused by the separa.
ton OF said property valuable, service
able and dependent as above set forth,
| but not taken, such value not to in.
| Guide any rights granted bv the United
States, good will, or prospective rev,
ehue. In addition the values allowed
! are not to exceed the actual reasonable
cost Of the property when it was ac.
| CURED by the lessee.
Provision is made for regulation by
the federal power commission of inter
state water power and of power in
any s'ateS where no State regulation i,
IN existence. Intrastate water mower il
10 be regulated by state utility com
mlsSionf Wlere they exist.
he bill proposes that lesseeS must
ray the United States annual amounts
to be fixed by the commission and s9ec-
ined III the lease. 4 minimum of 10
cents per horsepower per annum is
hXed, but no maximum is stated. Where
the lessee builds, maintains and oper-
ates aids to navigation. such as locks,
the MISSION is TO take that into
consideration IN fixing the charges. al
81 charging against the lessee any bene-
hts ne may obtain from the const,uc-
ton or operation by the United States
OF headwater improvements or navioa.
| ton structures
In Joint letter signed hv the tbrcf
Cabinet members who will form the
commission, sent to President Wilson
accompanying the bill and outlining
It's purposes, this statement is made
We believe that such legislation rs
| Is here proposed if enacted would mean
the early development of considerable
poflon OF our water power resources.
| with resultant saving in fuel and =
considerable lessening of the present
| demand on our transportation facili-
ties, caused by the moving of coal and
other heavy fuels
the good features of the several other
pending measures drawn along the same
| lnea~ 1t provides for the appointment
| Of an executive officer by the Pressi-
! dent for a five wear term at 4 salary Of
$4,000 a year, and appropriates 800
| 600 for the use of the commission. The