Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-06-22
GREAT FALLS FUND
DEFEAT ATTACKED
"Unfair," Says Norris, When
House Gets No Chance to
Vote on Amendment.
TT isn't fair"

{ 1dlE
This was the charge made by Sena-
tor Norris Of Nebraska, republican, in
connection with the action Of the Sem
ate conferees on the Army appropria-
ton bill in agreeing to drop the Norris
amendment providing 100000 to begin
project.
The conference report on the Army
bill was called up in the Senate today
by Chairman Wadsworth of the mill
tary affairs committee Immediately
after the Senate assembled.
The conference report provides $2o0,-
900 for beginning work on an increased
water supply for the District. but the
Norris amendment was eliminated by
the confereeS.
"If the Senate conferees had follow
ed the mandate Of the Senate. instead
Of following their own wishes" said
Senator Norris, 1.-The Great Falls
the House along with other Senate
amendments and the House permitted
to take a vote on it.
1T seems to me that the conferees
Of the Senate owed it to the Senate
that the amendment be taken to the
House for vote: Other amendments
were taken to the House and there
would have been no time lost il the
same course had been followed with
this amendment.
Previous Action.
This Great Falls water power prof.
ect has been twice agreed to by the
Senate. and each time the Senate con-
forces have receded and the House has
had no chance to vote on the propo-
sition. Last year in the water power
bill the Senate inserted a provision
providing $25.000,000 for this project
| The argument was made that no re-
cent investigation had been made by
the Army engineers, SO 1t was finally
agreed to cut the item to $4,000, with
which to make an investigation. The
Army engineers have reported favor
ably.
! Il have no doubt but what the House
| would have agreed to the amendmen,
il 1t had been submitted 10 II.
have been told by members of the
House that the amendment would have
been approved"
Senator Nelson of Minnesota asked
| IL the Great Falls project would save
| the government money. if constructed
Yes" replied Senator Norris He
said that the power project, if under
| taken. would cut the price Of elec-
tricity in the middle in the District of
Columbia: that in thirty years the
project would pay for Itself. and in
the meantime would pay per cent
On the investment He said also that
it would result in a saving of 100000
tons of coal each year in the Dis
trict.
Members of Congress are familiar
| with the Great Falls on the Potomac
1t is young Niagara in sight of the
dome of the Capitol.
where is this unseen power that
stays the action of Congress in de-
veloping Great Falls?" demanded
| Senator Norris. How long can we
go on disregarding the mandates OF
| duty?'
Interests in washinEton.
"If is said that there is no demand
for this project in Washington. Maybe
| not. There are too many wealth,
| men in Washington interested in
street railways. the gas company and
the electric light company. They dc
not want the country to see the ex.
| ample of the city getting this chear
power. When the time comes to kill
this proposition there is a way found
to kill it"
Senator Norris charged that power.
full interests all over the country are
opposed to the Great Falls project
He said that a certain Army office,
tCol. Langford). who is an expert or
this project, was "mysteriously" trans.
ferred by former Secretary of Wal
Baker.
Senator Norris said at the time The
Lengford report was made there wa,
a storm of protest from some quar-.
ters that the power plant would
destroy the beauty Of Great Fails
He declared that the plant would bt
placed at the end Of the tails nearest
10 the District line, and would no,
! mar the beauty of the falls.
Finds Flaw in Printing.
Senator Norris declared that tn,
Great Fails amendment was really q
part of the amendment providing
100000 for the Increased water sun.
ply for the District. which was an.
proved by the House. He said that the
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