New-York tribune., 1922-01-05

The state should grant licenses for
the development Of power for general
distri ibution, not for private use With
a general distribution assured, with
the power to fix rates and to regulate
service, capitalization and secured
debts of the iccnsee safeguarded, the
maximum public benefit from the de-
velopmcnt of the potential water
NNwer within the state will unques-
tionably be secured through private
enterprise.
The public should he assured of pro-
lection and the investment of capital
should be encouraged by the like as
surancc of a reasonable return on
provides for granting licenses to
municipalities / think it might we'll
prcridc for : pre- erential right in
n l.icipaNtie+ Co purchase on .he
terms prescribed by public authority
power developed under license from
the state. OF course, such a prefer
entail 'ioht shouid not be perm ittegl
to inte'1ole With o.her disposition if
not e..eiclscd. and unless exercised &
within given time o9 notice of the
quantity of power available such
power should be released from such
right to purchase. | trust that the
of the Legislature, and my hope is that
the definite establishment Of a settled
policy, just alike to the public and the
investor, will stimulate the devolp-
ment Of water power, which Is becom-
ing more and more necessary each
year.
1 renew my Recommendation Of last
year that Article VII, Section 7, of the
state constitution be amended so as 10
include power development among the
purposes for which the specified 3 per
centum of forest preserve lands may
be used, without however, increasing
the percentage that may be used for
all purposes. Unless an appropriate
resolution be passed this year, "a delay
OF from one to two years will result.
The surplus waters of the canal
present different problem. They are
q by-product. Navigation is the prim-
airy purpose of the canal. Any use Of
the surplus waters must be entirely
subordinate thereto. That subordina-
tion can be effectively secured only, in
my opinion, il the development Of
power from the surplus waters and tho
maintenance of the canal for naviga-
ton are under a single control
The water power act provides for
the leasing Of surplus waters BY the
" atcr PoWer Commission upon the GER
tifcate Of the superintendent Of Pub
lie Works and the act theoretically
provides for complete control in the
Superintendent of Public Works of
such waters. But past experience con-
clusively proves that such control will
not be effective under private develop
ment Theoretically and legally the
private power owner would get only
such water as was not needed for navi-
CATION; practically the needs of naviga-
cion would often be subordinated to the
desire FOR power, as has been proved
time and again. The hles Of the
Superintendent of Public Works and
even Of the Executive Chamber will
furnish the evidence Of the influence
and pressure even Of public opinion
that can be brought to bear illegally
TO secure water for mill owners on the
canal which may be needed for naviga-
tion. That exertion Of influence has
often been accompanied by some meas
urc Of success. At this critical period
it would not do to incur any risk of
subordinating navigation to the needs