Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-04-13
Maine Should Care for Her Own

Maine Should Care for Her Own
= Unless people of recognized busi-'
ness foresight and sound economic
Judgment are in error Names big
gest asset in natural resources is her
water powers. Is Maine competent
TO look after her property or should
she without protest permit the Fed
eral government to interfere in the
management? That's what some
see in the Federal Water Power Bill
III. r. 3lS4D now in conference.
1t would seem a most important
what the real significance of that
inca sure may be and then to act ac-
cordngly. If the Federal definition
of "navigable waters" would include
all Streams capable of floating logs,
no matterif the definition be an old
one. it kould seem loaded with
mischievous possibilities, in view Of
the evident purpose of the Govern
mcnt to exercise its rights in this re-
spcct, and in further view of the fact
that the welfare of our State is daily
becoming ore dependent on the
power afforded by her waters.
With the country's transportation
facilities now at the mercy of strik-
crs and the price and uncertainty of
a fuel supply looming ominously
Maine having water powers availa-
bic for doing much of the work now
aone by coal would be stupidity re-
miss in her duty 10 neglect her op-
portuaity.
If this proposed measure becomes
a law it appears that no concern
planning TO develop water power
would be able to do so without first
obtaining a Federal license. The
country has had a plenty of Federal
interference and red tape in matters
which the Federal Government is
incompetent. by the nature of things,
TO hapdle properly.
The following is a clause Of the bill
which competent authorities think
would permit interference with va
tiers which might never be made
ravigable in the generally under
stood definition of that term.
"'Navisable waters means those
parts of streams or other bodies OF
water over which Congress has juris-
commerce with foreign nations ana
among the several states and which
either in their natural or improved con-
dition, notwithstanding interruptions, by
land carriage. are used or suitable for
use for the transportation of persons or
property. in interstate or foreign com
merce, including therein all such in
together with. such other parts OF
streams as shall have been authorized
by Congress for improvement by the
United States or shall have been recon-
mended to Congress for such improve
ment after investigation under its au-
thority.''
sec. 4. That the commission is here
by authorized and empowered
td) To issue licenses to citizens of
the United States. or to any corpora
ton, or to any State, or municipality for
the purpose of constructing, operating.
and maintaining dams, water conduits.
reservoirs, power houses. transmission
lines or other project works necessary
or convenient for the development and
improvement of navigation, and for
the development, transmission. and
utilization of power across, along, or
in any Of the navigable waters Of the
United States. Provided further, that
no license affecting the navigable ca
pacity Of any navigable waters Of the
United States shall be issued until the
plans of the dam and other navigation
structures have been approved by the
Chief Of Engineers and the .-ecretary
of War
We are unable to see wherein
there may be any advantage for the
Federal Government to have juris-
diction over our non navigable wa
tiers or be able to interfere with the
building of log dam for the purpose
of driving logs. If there be such
good reason it should be made known
otherwise effort should be made to
amend the bill.