The Washington times., 1924-01-17
{. POWER
BILL, GOAL
Of FIGHT
Public Ownership League
Launches Campaign to
Enact Control Law.

Final plans for an aggressive
campaign on Capitol Hill to enact
a law for Federal control and
supervision Of the nations hydro
electric resources were made by
the public superpower committee,
appointed by the Public Owner
ship League Of America in execu-
tive session in the Hotel Hamilton
today.
Will Report to League.
The report Of the committee will
be made to the super.power confer
ence of the league late today. The
definite form Of the bill to be intro
duced by Senator George w. Norris
of Nebraska. providing conservation
and development of hydro-electric
resources for the peoples, will then
be announced.
The committee consists of the
Rev. DIR. John A. Ryan, Of Catholic
University, chairman; Senator Nor
ris, James p. Noonan, president of
the International Electrical Work
ers; Charles Edward Russell, Benja-
min c. Marsh, of the National Farm
ers' Council; Jennie Buell., of the
Michigan State Grange, and Charles
K. Mohler consulting engineer.
Would Aid New Industry.
Father Ryan. addressing the con.
ference today, declared that public
| super-power would make possible
new industries in small towns and
villages, and would have the effect
of retarding the increase in size and
population of large cities.
Super-power, he declared, would
make electricity cheaper than gas,
oil or wood" and would double tho
carrying capacity of railroads, with
a corresponding reduction in the cost
Of transportation"
"The conclusion that the SUPER
power system or systems ought TO
be owned and operated publicly,
rather than privately" the speaker
said, us immensely strengthened by
our experience with two great COM
parable industries. refer to the
railroads and the anthracite coal
Mines"
| He told his audience that although
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
has authority to restrict railway
owners to a fair rate of return on
their investment, and to provide the
public with reasonable service at rea-
sonable rates, many Of us are mot
convinced that the profits of the
railroads, at least some of the most
important systems, are restricted to
fair rate of return on a fair valua-
ton"
The problems of TRANSFORMATION
and fuel, through which the public
has suffered, would be duplicateI
Father Ryan said, under a system of
privately owned super-power, subject
to public supervision and regulation.
La Toilette Interested.
Senator Robert w. La Toilette of
wisconsin registered at conference
headquarters today and expressed a
desire to return for the final sea.
sion tonight. 1t Is probable he will
speak at the informal dinner Of the
Public Ownership League in the
hotel tonight.
While the Great Falls superpowar
project has not come to the fora
to any great extent during the con.
ference, the conferees unanimously
stated their interest in convertinS
the hydro-electric energy of the
Potomac, now being wasted. into
power for the benefit Of Washing.
Conians.
Under the terms of the Norris hill
soon to be introduced to the Senate
the development and utilization ri
Great Falls would be Accomplished
with the aid of bond issue. and
the distribution of light and l,ovey
J to the District would be under Gov
eminent direction. It has been
estimated that the cost of electric
|. light, heat and power would be cut
in half by public ownership.
ii Dinner to Be Held Tonight.
An informal dinner will be held AZ
the hotel tonight, at which Edward
Heating will be toastnaste,
Speakers will be Senator C. C. Dill
. on public Super-Power Movement
! in Washington" George Maxwell
5 executive director of the Arizona
, Hlghline Reclamation Association.
} on "Arizona's Part in the Public
/ Super-Power Movement" Senator
n. B. Howell, on THE Nebraska
Super-Power Measure" and Chief
/ Justice Walter Clark, Of the North
Carolina supreme court, on "Public
. Super-Power and the Power Situa,
ton In the Southeast"