Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-01
FORM COMMITTEE
TO DEFEND WATER
POWER MEASURE
Governments Attitude To.
ward Muscle Shoals Pro.
ject Attacked.
DANGER is ALLEGED
IN FORD'S PROPOSAL
Former Forester Says 1t
Would Open Way for
Others.
~ 4 MBE RsHIP IS LARGE
New Organization Hns Many OF M
lions Lending CItfEens
VI I: RsHIp Is IARCE
w" organization fIns Many OF Sa-
lions Lending CItf1ens
In Ranks.
IRy Associatcd Prcss1

"ASHlNGTON. Oct 3l-Forma-
tion OF national COMMITTEES for
the defense OF the Federal water
power act was announced here to-
night By Philip +. Wells, former chief
law oficer Of the United States For
estry Service. who in formal state
nent called upon ali conservationis,,
'or reaf!irmation OF support to the
law. Inc statement warns also
against acceptance by Congress- Of
the proposal by Henry Ford TO ,ake
over the Muscle Shoals Federal pow
or project. declaring such action
would be a violation of the basic
principles OF the act which was fif-
'eeh years IN Congress before enact
ment.
Mr.. Wells statement cri,ic,zes Con.
sresS FOR giving "a vast amount OF
time" to the discussion OF the Ford
proposal! while declining to take up
'ho very simple legislation" which
would correct one weakness" in the
iaw--rnake II possible for the water
power commission to use some OF i,s
appropriation for employment OF ex-
ptrts. The Ford contract would give
MIN vast subsidy" according 10
the statement. in addition to estab-
iishing prccedenis for leasing priyi-
ieges.
Would Open Way.
III this the FordJ proposal wcr.
accepted" said the statement. every
corporation which has, or desires a
water power privilege would demand
lease on Mr.. Ford's terms; and how
Sou!d they be denied! The accent
ance or this offer would be a deadly
oio~ to the application of -,.e prlnci.
p'ss OF conservation :, the use OF
water power"
toes OF the law do not appear 10 in
ciude the large group OF Interests
Which are the main Investors In and
developers of water power" Those
interests. according to the statement.
ADMIT that the law is practicable"
ana arc willing 10 develop power un
aeT It's provisions. Inasmuch as un-
dcT the law the Federal government
controls approximately S5 per cent
OF the waterpower resources. the
committee feels any attack upon n
should be promptly met In order that
development may not he thwarted.
announcement OF the committees In :.
'en'ioh TO re-educatc" the public
'''S h'tNS anu NdlueS or the la
10 the country as one means OF COM
na'inE attempts to orerturn IT, is
included In the statement which goes
on To say that the law embod!es .'per-
maps beyond any law on the statute
books. the conclusions OF experts
IN engineering. economics. legislative
drafting and constitutional law. II
provides. according to the statement,
that the public be I'm on the ground
floor" and the only question is
whether IT should remain as one Of
the original participants in national
resources.
Announces Members
Mr.. Wells stated that the COM
mlttee included among its member
ship the foremost conservationists in
the country. and he named among
others: James r.. Garfield. Cleveland:
Clifford Pinchot. Pennsylvania: Wal
ter l.. Fisher and John Barton Payne,
both former Secretaries of the Inte-
rior: Lindley N. Garrison and New
ton ID. Baker. former Secretaries of
War: David Houston and l.. T. Mere
dIth, former Secretaries OF Agricul-
ture. and n dozen others and the
widely known figures active In the
fight for conservation OF the coun-