Evening star., 1925-01-10
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

to cooperate with the Potomac EIec-
trio Power Co. in the distributiou
over existing wires.
= y -.
If the Potomac Electric Power 90
declines to cooperate, it is suggest
ed by the committee that the Federa
authorities could require it to pur-
chase its current in the cheapest
market-that of the hydroelectrir
Great Falls power-and could brins
further pressure 10 bear by reducing
rates TO consumers so low that steam
production Of current by the Poto-
mac Electric Power Co. would b.
ruinous. Baltimore might become q
profitable bidder for the current Il;
case it is not accepted by the local
power company. However, the Con
gressmen do not expect such a con
tingency to arise.
According to Maj. Tyler. the cost
OF power delivered in Washington
would not exceed SIS mills, when the
item of depreciation of the plant is
put at 6 per cent; If depreciation he
counted at per cent the cost would
be 6.2 mills, and it can be distributed
over long distance lines at an add
tional cost of one mill per 100 miles
SO that Baltimore would be well
within range as a customer. The
saving to Washingtonians, on the
OASIS or present consumption, is given
as s1.5oo,000 a year. -----
The natural beauty of the falls will
not be changed. The reservoir below
the fails will be a lake miles
long, which may be adorned as
feature of a new park
Representative Blanton of Texas
who recently read into the record
long testimonials from his constit
uents praising his opposition to an
propriations for the benefit of the
National Capital-so far off from
Texas-is opposed to the Great Falls
deYeIopment by the Government. He
cites 1t as an unconstitutional exer-
else of the Governments right Of
eminent DOMAIN to cross State lines.
invade Maryland and Virginia and
condemn land belonging to private in
olVlduais, unless solely for navisa-
tlon. He protests that the proposed
dams and power houses will NOT
AFFECT the navigation Of the Potomac
River, hence not within the constitu-
tional powers of Congress.
IN response to Mr.. Blanton's objec-
tlons, the question of constitutional
lty has been passed upon by Attor-
ney General Stone-i.e. Associate Jus
tice Stone soon to sit upon the United
States Supreme bench-who sweeps
away the Blanton arguments with a
! carefully worded opinion, signed per
sonally by himself
He says of the right to condemn.
THE report referred to may con
| template condemnation proceedings
and make clear what the bill does
not specifically declare To avoid any
doubt, the authority to condemn real
estate should be expressly confer
| red
When the Legislature itself ex-
pressly declares the purpose for use
| to be public one, or what amou-.s
! to the same thing, expressly author
ICES a taking for a use specifically
described, its judgment will be ac-
cepted by the courts. unless the use
| is palpably without reasonable foun-
| dation. ." AS the suprAme
legislative authority for the District
| of Columbia, and having numerous
governmental establishments which
consume large quantities of electric
current, there would be some ground
| for declaration by Congress that
such hydroelectric development was
both necessary and expedient"
Mr.. Stone cites the power of Con-
gress to condemn land at Gettysburg
and elsewhere for memorial park
purposes. where the land Cat Gettys-
burg) was taken from railway
which, itself. had right of eminent
domain then. adds Mr.. Stone.
| 'It is difficult to conceive of any
valid objection to the Governments
benefting itself and promoting the
! welfare of the residents of the Ma
tional Capital by furnishing a pub
! lie utility service which modern life
| makes convenient and almost indis-
peHsable.' ,ss.s se