The Washington times., 1924-09-22
Pl10 NJ A('
PROJECT
CITED
laFellette and Wheeler Back
lAg Congress- Bin Against
Trust

The development Of natural re-
sources as proposed by the super
power program Of the Progressives
viii cut the physical toll and bur-
denS Of the housAlzeeper in half,
and viii provide the farmer with
electric current for IS cents day
equal to the labor Of five men and
: four-horse team, according to
the second section Of the Pro-
6ressive campaign textbook deal
Ing with natural resources
This program, it il stated, win
enable every household and every
indNstry to be run by electricity
furnished by waterpower ct one
half to cne-thifd present costs.
Attack on Coolidge.
The electric power trust. COM
pOsAd Of eighty.five public service
corporations ana controlling IS
per cent Of the total public service
power in the United States" the
ProsreAsiv4s contend. are sitting
development In this field by
monopoly control and excessive
charges"
TO break this power the Pro
gresstves propose ito maintain pub
lie owner6hip of the nations water
power and to develop, . great ma
tiOnAlA super-power system to fur
nish light and power ct cost to
the people.
Again attacking President Cool
iqge for having ''failed utterly to
aeIn0nStfAtA any sincere intention
Of reclainainG the property stolen
from. the people," this section Of
the Progressive campaign textbook
also states that public land frauds
now run into billions Of dollars. Of
which the naval oil leases repre-
sent only a fraction. &
Their claims are based on the
official list Of all public lands
leased or transferred, furnished
last spring by the Department of
the Interior to the Senate at the
request Of Senator La Toilette,
''This official list shows that 4
large number OF the original les
: secs were dummies who have now.
Transferred their holdings to. on
companies In violation Of the law.
Not only have Sinclair and Doheny
ILLEGALLY and corruptIy gained con-
troll Of public reserves, but Stand
ard Oil has its full share" the
Progreesives declare.
If these resources wrested from
- h
ana gIatuities were reclaimed and
", they would produce a revenue
% large that material reduction Of
the tax burden would inevitably
result"
Embodied In Bill.
Nor IL John w. Davis, counsel
Of the Standard Oil Company, quail.
flied to take any action for the re-
covery of these stolen reserves, ac-
cOrding to the Progressives,
Both La Toilette and Wheeler
have already demonstrated their
capacity to fight corruption to the
finish and free from entangling
alliances" alone can be trusted to
recover and administer these re.
serves with honesty" it is claimed.
The plan for water.p0wer devel.
Opment advocated by the Pro.
greesives Is embodied in the Norris
Keller Bill INTRODUCED at the last
session Of Congress.
This bill provides for . nation.
wide, public. guper.power system
including Muscle Ghoals and the
Colorado river DEVELOPMENT, with
Federal aid to States, cities, cOun.
ties, districte, and other political
subdivisions for the development
Of electric power on . selt.suppOFt.
ing basis at . cost estimated at
under private management.
BY the provisions Of this bill, the
whole system Is removed complete
" and absolutely from politics and
put In charge Of an Independent
parsons appointed by the President
and subject 10 recall only by Joint
action Of both houses OF Congress
and for cause.
New Era Predicted.
Such q program. declare the pro-
Sressives. will cut the physical toll
and burdens. Of the housekeepAr in
max Will BTodtiy multlpty the pro-
ductive powers OF the industries of
the nation, and develop hundreds Of
new industries that were never pos
sible before: win reduce the cost Of
transportation, and double, IL not
treble, their carrying capacity, and
viii provide the farmer with cleo.
trio current. for IS cents a day,
equal to the labor Of five men and
q fouT.horSA team.
It will eliminate the smoke
nuisance In cities; It viii irrieAte
and reclaim millions of acres of
arid lands where citizens NAV find
employment and build homes; il
will stop destructive floods and aid
navigation. and by thus expanding
ana enlarging the Industrial, agri.
cultural and domestic life Of the
nation, open a new era OF. progress
and general prosperity.
In support OF their argument. the
Progressives point to Springfield,
Ill, where, under municipal owner.
ship; electric current is produced
ct ~ cents kilowatt hour: Ia
Tacoma, Wash, where the pubiicIv
owned plant sells electricity at /
cent q kilowatt hour ninth the
-