The New York herald., 1922-03-27
CHEAPER LIGHTING
FORECAST In STATE
Big Saving Promised by Bill
Giving State Control Over
Power Companies.
MILLER SIGNS MEASURE
1t Precludes ANY, Possibility
of Hydroelectric Grab at
Peoples Expense.
MILLER SIGNS MEASURE

Special Dispatch 10 THE NEW York HnsALo
New York Herald Bureau.l
Albany, March 26. !
The State gets absolute and complete
control over private companies licensed
to develop and sell water power under
the Robinson bill. signed to-day by Gov.
Miller tt is one OF the administration
measures. carrying out the Republican
plan. instituted last year by the creation
OF the State Water Power Commission,
OF providing for the development OF the
States hydroelectric energy by private
capital and under State regulation.
The consummation OF the plan will
mean cheaper light heat and power and
big saving in the coal bills for every
body, from the biggest manufacturer to
the iowllest householder.
The bill brings under the provisions
OF the law all those companies which
have heretofore obtained legislative
grants upon which they have rested
without actually developing power. There
will be no chance. for them under the
hydroelectric resources Of the State.
Another Safeguard in Bill.
Another safeguard in the bill. the Gov
ernor pointed out, is the States right OF
recapture by requiring a deduction Of
earnings in excess Of per cent. In an
swer to the arguments that this might
tend to discourage the investment OF
capital, Gov. Miller declared that an 5
per cent. profit for public utility Is
ample. since fun provision is made for
the inclusion of every legitimate cost
and the allowance OF every proper deduc-
ton
TT must not be overlooked" said the
Governor, that the rights of the State
are held in trust for all the people OF
the State. A direct public benefit from
the development of the States water
powers can be secured in only one of
two ways--either from revenue or from
the general distribution OF cheap power.
II believe that the greatest good to all
the people of the State will come from
the general distribution of cheap power.
The power OF regulation must therefore
be reserved If II turns out that capital
is unwilling to invest urder those condi-
tions it will be necessary to consider
the alternative of State development.
"In this connection a great deal of
buncombe has been uttered during the
last twenty years by those who have
been interested in water power as CUB
ject for political agitation but who have
never studied the subject deeply enough
to consider even one practical method OF
securing the development of the pat
.tt,s ctak
Privately owned Rights.
Excluding the boundary streams.
which involve national and international
compllca tions, there is possibility OF
developing a million continuous horse
power on interior streams if the maxi
mum development ami use can be se-
cured. BY far the larger part OF those
water power rights are now privately
owned. The State. however, owns rights
which puts IL in a strategic position &c
facilitate water power development and
TO secure therefrom the maximum public
beneht.
mo ono has undertaken to compute
what it would cost the State for the
mere acquisition OF private rights which
would be necessary TO any scheme OF
State development. There can be no
doubt that the wise policy is to encour-
age development by private enterpr,sc
in such fashion as TO secure the maxi
mum development AMI the maximum
general benefit. This bill is designed to
accomplish that purpose.
"The act as amended definitely estab-
fishes the policy of the State, and II now
remains to be seen whether private en-
terprise and initiative can be stimulated
10 develop the potential water powers OF
the state under conditions which protect
the public interest. The need OF such
development is becoming yearly more
urgent. and II is only a question OF time
when the urgency will be so great as TO
compel the State itself TO undertake the
development II. in the meantime, private
enterprise and initiative shall not have
been equal to the task"