The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-08-29
SIMS CHARGES
DOUBLE DEALING
t-i
Says Amendments to Water.
power Bill Would Have Fa-
vored Private Interests.
PRESIDENT DIsAPPRovEs
Thought Mr.. Wilson Preparing
to Announce Scheme Federal
Power Development.

washington, AUG. zS.-OOuDIe deal
ing in the manipulation of amend
ments to the administration water
power bill that convert the bill into
one unduly favoring the water power
interests of the United States is
charged in a letter to President VIII
son by Chairman Thetus Sims, of the
house water power committee.
The letter, together with President
Wilson's reply, was read by Chairman
Sims during debate on the bill in the
house this afternoon.
Sims demanded TO know whether the
president In fact favored the amend
ments put forward as having the ap
proval OF the administration. The
president replied emphatically that he
did not.
Il am free to reply" the president
wrote, that did not see the draft OF
amendments to the water power bin
which were introduced by Mr.. Merrill
and his associates after the bill was
first put in the hands of your special
committee. l do not approve of them
and 1t is my earnest hope that the con-
gress will see mt to pass thu bill as 1t
was originally drafted and provision
ally agreed upon In our informal con-
ference"
The Mr.. Merrill mentioned In the
presidents letter is q. &. Merrill. chief
engineer OF the forest railway bureau,
of the department of agriculture. who
first handed the proposed amendment
to Chairman Sims with a letter ap-
proving them signed by Secretary or
War Baker, Secretary OF the Interior
Lane and Secretary OF Agriculture
Houston.
President Wilson's letter to Chair
man Sims confirmed the belief Of those
close to the White House that the
president is preparing soon to an
nounce policy of federal development
of the water power resources of the
United States.
Passage of the bill with the amend
ments denounced by Chairman Sims
would have tied up practically all
water power sites In private hands for |
an indefinite period. The bill in its |
original form would permit the govern
ment to take over leased water power |
sites at almost any time it desired.
President Wilson Is known to doubt
that the United States can embark on
such an enterprise at this time, be-
cause of the tremendous expenditures
it would entail. He Is thought to look
upon the water power bill as tenn
porary measure that will tide the coun-
try over till peace time, leaving the
hands of the government free for any
action deemed advisable at a later
date.
II the president finds sufficient sup
port for federal operation OF all water
power resources on the western trip he
Is considering. he expected to announce
the new policy at that time. He has
been urged to adopt the policy by Sec
retary of War Baker and Secretary of
he Treasury McAdoo, who believe the
water power plants should be operated
inder federal control in conjunction
with the electrified railway systems OF
he future.
sims Says Changes Unknown to Him.
to Him.
Chairman Sims, In an eight-page
etter, told the president the whole his
ory of the pending water power legis-
alton. The original bill prepared by
he secretaries Of war. interior and
gricuture, and whose Fundamental
rinciples" the president approved, was
together to his liking, Sims said.
However, before the bill had been {
onsidered by the special water power
Sims said, Chief Engineer !,
ierrill. of the forestry bureau, came
. him and asked that the bill be re- {
there were certain
the three secretaries 7
ranted in the interest of clarity and p.
He turned the bill over =
} Mr. Merrill
about two weeks afterwards" Sims v
ontinued. "Mr. Merrill came to me in r
ne commiteeroom late one afternoon ?
nd brought what he said was the bill I
18th the suggested amendments pro- n n
osed by the three secretaries and also r
anded me letter signed by the Sec il
staries. Assuming, Of course, that the e
had been submitted to you
Y the three secretaries and approved
y you, l never even read the bill or !,
le letter, but went Immediately to the h
oor of the house ana had the letter s.
ut into the Congressional Record and r,
i'd 1000 copies of the bill printed at -
nee and also 1000 copies of the let
r."
Upon his attention being called to r
e amendments. Representative Fer
y read them, Sims said, and found
at instead Of changing the phrase
ogy SO that the fundamental pro-
sions of the bill would be more easily
idcrstood. the fundamental provisions
the bill were completely changed"
Sims cited the fact that the original
Il provided for license period, mot
ceeding fifty years." but the amend
ents made IAN arbitrary fifty-year
riod with no power to provide for a
is period without the consent Of the |
ensee." A tender of new license
the expiration of the first was made RI
r.