New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-09-24
CONGRESS- ERROR
STOPS PROJECTS
WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT is
At A STANDsTiLL FOR LACK
OF SUFFICIENT FUNDS.
COMMISSION IS HELPLESS
Controller Of Treasury Rules in Effect
That 1t Cannot Hire Anyone to Do
Anything, Hence Licenses Cannot
Be Issued.
BY JAMES p.

BY JAMES p. HORNADAY.
Observation-Disclosures power develop
men under the legislation enacted b!
congress last spring is practically "a
"A standstill because the Legislative
body neglected to provide the water
power commission with sufficient
funds, and for the further reason thai
it made it impossible to issue permits
by prescribing certain conditions
which are impossible Of fullillment, il
is asserted.
Rapid development Of the water
power of the country was promised
under this legislation. There was
created II water power commission
consisting of the secretary of war, the
secretary of agriculture and the sec
rotary of the interior. Congress- appro-
priated 100000 for the use of the
commission, and then prescribed, ac-
cording to a ruling made by the con-
tr0lier Of the treasury, that this money
could be expended for two salaries
only. the executive secretary and the
engineer officer. The controller held
that the work of the commission must
be performed by and through the de-
p%artinents Of war, interior and agricul-
ture and their personnel.
This meant that although the com
mission might appoint an executive
secretary, which it has done, II must
borrow whatever clerical or technical
assistants it might need for its mani
fold duties, and that it could spend
its Sl00,O00 to pay the executive Sec
rotary Of the interior. Congress appro-
implied In the purchase Of stationery
and other working utensils.
Cannot Hire Anything Done.
Under the Interpretation of the leg
iSlatlon made by the controller of the
treasury, the commission cannot hire
anyone to do anything. The destruc.
tiy"nCSS of this restriction is ilIuStrnt.
ed 10y the knowledge that some of the
duties Imposed ON the commission.
like the institution of AN accounting
system, are Of such Il character that
outside help must be employed il
they are to be performed.
The legislation specifically provides
that the commission shall prescribe Il
method of accounting when the Ii,
censcrS must follow, and must make n
survey for every project for which
an application for II permit is made.
II develops that the commission an.
not make surveys because il has
neither the men nor the money with
which 10 make them. and that il can.
not devils" an accounting system be-
cause 1t has no accountants.
The water power commission has
received applications for permits 10
develop power from every section OF
the country. All it can do at this
time, IL asserts, Is to notify applicants
that their applications cannot be taken
up until congress Strengthens out the
legislation. II is taken for granted
the legislative body viii do this
in the December session.
Great Projects Held Up.
IN California particularly, where the
Of electric power is acute
Dnr concern alone has signiiicd "A vii.
.Iingness to spend IA million dollars Il
month in construction IL allowed to
develop power plants on government
and ia accordance with the terms OF
ID" leasing law. Another application
j. for permission 10 make use of the
Intensive water power in Michigan.
The object of the water leg.
WIS 10 render available for
Common use something like sixty mil.
ION horse power going to waste on
streams of the country. Tp Ia
his time applications for permits to
lerclop two million horse power have
made to the commission.
II L. one of the anomalies of water
legislation that the law has pro.
idrd more money for IL subordinate
'ody than for the superior body. The
.ct appropriateS Sl2J.O00 for the uses
# the geological survey in investigat.
the sO-called tying-in Isan ~
advocated 10y Franklin X.
n TIL" system here proposed is
+ the greatest importance TO the
Whole country. Briefly stated. the OBJ
ccl of the plan is TO render available :
or comulon use the facilities Of pres ,
nj and future stcam and water elec- F,
ric plants whereby the water Towpr 4,
lantS would be used ut 100 per cent +;
Efficiency 10 carry the main load 81 A.,
and the steam plants lie util- ,
lel To- carry the peak load, as during f,
he rush hours on an electric street +,
iilway system. =
More Money for Road Building. !
The federal bureau of public roads
aS just made the last federal ap- +,
.ortionIuent of road funds avail !;
under existing law TO the n
states. The total noun of ,
he last inStallment of the 1916 ap- $
ropriaiion apportiOned is S2i.2JO.OO0 n
nd the total amount Of the last In I
under the 1919 nppropria- I
on apporiioned is So, 10000. The Il
Iportionment by states is as follows. a
h. first amount being the apportion- f
tent under the 1916 appropriation. g
nd the se'Ond amount the apportiOn- n
lent under the 1919 appropriation: o
This last apportionment of federal $
10 aid the states in road con- ii