The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-10-03


the word and so accustomed TO daily
manifestations OF power all around
US that the energies OF the universe
release themselves before a COMMON
place regard Until now we have re-
gsrded men chiefly in their religious
and political relations; from now on
we shall regard them more and more
In their Industrial relations. in their
capacity to achieve through intelli-
gent use OF the forces OF nature
Striking evidence OF this new evolu-
ton Is 10 be found In the recent
international meeting at Spa. the lat
est OF the great post-bellum confer
ences designed TO control . new
world order. That conferences had
little or nothing To do with political
considerations or formulate.
1t eentered on coal as the essentia
of national existence and power. Min
listers OF state. gathered there nomi-
nally to represent political power.
thought only OF Industrial power;
highest international >statecraft con
cerned itself with nothing higher
than coal; great personalities con-
trolling the political policies OF the
world were but mouthpiecer of ma
tional industry demanding coal: prime
ministers found themselves bargain
ing with owners OF coal. even with
miners OF coal.
THEME OF CONFERENCE.
Coal. rather than any political
clause Of the Treaty of Versailles, was
the theme OF the great Spa confer
ence; IT was and is the great prob
lem OF upset Europe,
Likewise, our own problems are
largely problems OF mechanical power;
coal. oil, and other sources OF energy.
These problems are becoming acute
To them our old political formuiae
have little application, and an intel
ligent consideration of then demands
new political appreciations. That
those in political authority are begin
ming to CLEAN this truth was indi-
Gated when our President was con-
strained to reverse an ancient prac-
ticc and belatedly gave his approval
to the Federal water power act, an
act which was designed to put the
work for us tens Of millions OF horse
power, but which unfortunately is
likely to fall short of such sanguine
expectation.
Coal is the great source, Of our de-
veloped power. we have some 25,y
100000 steam engine horsepower in
use in this country-much OF IL in
wasteful use, as in the locomotive en-
gine-and we have some 100000
horsepower generated from water
power. We are suffering from an
acute shortage OF power.
We have not enough to meet our
present plant requirements and none
for industrial expansion. We need
many millions more. Let us not con-
tinue to deceive ourselves. This con-
dition cannot be remedied by politi-
cal preachment. nor by mere manipu-
lation or even improvement of things
as they are. We are face to face with
an actual shortage of coal, an actual
shortage of labor at the mines, an
actual shortage of production, and
an actual shortage of transportation.
IT may be well to remember that
about one third OF all our transpor-
tation is taken up in hauling the coal
that we now use. The water power
act is designed to supply the remedy
by experimenting. and in many activ
tiles superseding, our coal power by
hydro-electric- energy. 1t is estimated
chat some 50,0OO,00O horsepower lies
latent in our rivers. almost twice as
much as all the power we now have
nesses our rivers and enables us to
develop a substantial quantity Of the
power now going to waste that is
feasible of development under help
full legislation, the result must be Of
immeasurable benefit to this nation.
Our Industries will expand and
multiply. our railroads be freed for our
better service, the navigation of our
rivers improved, our agriculture
stimulated through cheaper fertilizers,
the nitrate of which will be drawn
from the air through hydro-electric
methods, out-of-the-way localities
opened UP, our limited quantity OF
coal conserved and put to better use.
and, incidentally. we of the common
public may hope to be released to a
comforting degree from the upper and
neither millstones of the mine opera
tor and the miner. ,- p.
NO EFFECTIvE LAWS.
We have a water power act at last.
The character of all legislation is
largely determined by prenatal influ-
ences. Notwithstanding this subject
means, and for many years has meant,,
so much to every man, woman and
child of this country, and notwith-
standing all the agitation for one kind
of legislation or another for the last
twenty years, there has been but lit
tie intelligent interest in it: conse-
quently we have had no effective leg
islation.
AS long ago as 1890 Congress, I'M
der the guise of protecting the navi-
gability of our rivers and the own
ership of our public lands, prohibited
under penalty the activity necessary
for power development unless 1t
should be specially authorized in each
individual case by Congress itself.
Thus Congress effectually locked the
door to water power development,
which, until now-if now-it mas
never opened. Congress failed to per-
form the legislative function OF lay
ing down general principles to gov
eru development, leaving the applica-
ton of them in a particular case to
administration, and unwisely assumed
the impossible administrative task of
passing upon every project. The re-
suit was inaction.
The President, little interested and
never well Informed, took no decisive
course, but gave attentive ear to i'm
practicable plans. There was no