The Washington times., 1921-06-11
BIC FIGHT upon
CONSERVATION IS
SEEN IN CONGRESS
Hapgood Predicts Miserable
Experience" for Curry Bill If
1t Goes to Senate.
BY NORMAN HAPGooD.

Scott Bone, the new governor OF
Alaska, has no soft job. His appoint
nent was a compromise in bitter
fight. Washington was full of men
who had journeyed all the way from
Alaska to tell President Harding
what to do about H.
There were two groups. One group
represented what for lack OF a better
rame is generally called the Guggen-
helm interests. That group had sew
eral candidates, the best known OF
whom was named Hazlitt
The opponents of this group cen
tered on one candidate, Judge Wick
ersham. formerly governor of Alaska
and also formerly delegate from
Alaska
President Harding tried to hand
this hot decision to Secretary Fall,
who Is particularly interested in such
r, alters. IL was too hot for the Sec
Ietary. who handed IL back to the
President The President decided
that each extreme had killed of the
ether. and he appointed a man not
lined up in the controversy.
FIGHT ON CURRY BILL
Mr.. Bone undertakes his labors at
time when a fight has begun in
Congress that will last all summer.
Congressman Curry was badly upset
over the exposure of the real nature
of his bill for the immediate destruc-
tiCn of all safeguards on the re-
sources of Alaska, but he Is going
right ahead. Notwithstanding. to re-
port the bill.
The bill will have a fancy time OF
II, II not in the House. then in the
Senate. II IL is not greatly disin-
fected before it gets on the floor OF
TIE Senate, the group of insurgent
Senator'S will give it a miserable ex-
rerience.
Meantime, in another area of the
conservation field two events of real
Importance have come to pass. Pos
sibly there is nothing more important
in the world today than water power.
II bears heavily on the future of hui
N anity in transportation, in heating,
in manufacture
WATER POWER POLICY.
As water power has no respect for
State lines, IL is hard to handle IL
piecemeal. The Governors OF three
great States have taken the first
steps toward a joint policy. They
are the governors of New York.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey
The other step has been taken by
the national conservation Associa-
ton. In important respects this as
ISOLATION has been in conflict with
the big water-power interests OF the
country. 1t recognizes, however. that
the situation changes, that the need
OF waterpower increases rapidly and
that it is better for different groups
TO work together when possible.
Therefore the conservation assocta-
ton invited the principal water
power men to a conference to go into
the whole situation. This conference
took place few days ago at Harris
burg.
At the end of the comparison of
views II was proposed that a commit
tee be appointed. to study and re-
port, made up partly OF representa-
tives of the power companies and
partly OF members of the Conserva-
tion Association.
Clifford Pinchot, president of the
association and state forester OF
Pennsylvania, amended the sugges-
ton so that the committee was com
posed entirely of the water-power in
terests
When 1t has thrashed out the situa-
ton there will be another conference,
at which II is hoped Joint policy
may be worked out for the develop
ment Of water-power. with all ele-
ments behind 1t, instead OF with a
continued night ahead.