Evening star., 1927-12-04
BY WILLIAM HARD.

Among the many conflicting lecis-
lative notes which will be sounded
in the session of Congress opening
tomorrow it begins to seem clear to
Senators and Representatives that
there is one which will continually
appear and reappear and which may
be regarded as on it's way to being
dominant. That is the note of Fed
eral governmental public ownership
and operation.
1t makes itself heard as a central
theme or as an aftermath in the
course Of all the plans for such wide
ly different and separated PROPOSE
tions as farm relief and flood con-
troll, ocean-going merchant ships and
Boulder Dam and Muscle Shoals, the
Inland Waterways Corporation and
the Senate resolution by Mr.. Walsh
of Montana for a drag-net inquiry
into the habits and manners and Gus
toms of all the privately owned gas
and electric public utility corpora
tions of the United States.
Farm Relief Plans.
The farm relief plans seem focusing
toward at least one point of probable
agreement The Government seems
at this moment to be destined to en-.
large its operations as banker. IT
already. through its powers of SUI
pervision over the II Federal farm
loan banks, has a great deal to do
with managing the loaning of i'm
mense amounts Of capital on agricul-
tural land. 1t already, through the
Federal governmental public capital
in the IL Federal intermediate credit
banks, is engaged in a great deal
of direct and indirect financing Of
agricultural interests. 1t now is being
almost irresistibly impelled toward a
1arge-scale financial participation in
the hazards and emoluments. and
losses and profits, of Nationwide
agricultural marketing operations. If
any farm relief plan at all is able
finally to secure both congressional
and presidential approval. it seems
likely at least to increase the duties
and powers of the Federal Govern.
ment as a financial hacker Of private
agricultural business endeavors.
In the case of flood control in the
Mississippi Valley, the tide of thought
is setting strongly not only toward en-
larged Federal responsibility for the
building and managing of local flood
control works and structures, but also
toward the development of improved
means of water transportation, which
of the activities of the tugs and barges
of the federally owned and operated
Inland Waterways Corporation.
That corporation is now operating
water transportation service from
Minneapolis and St. Paul to st. Louis,
from st. Louis to New Orleans, from
New Orleans along the Gulf Coast to
Mobile, from Mobile up the Tombigbee
and Warrior Rivers to Birningport,
Ala. From that last point it owns and
operates even railroad service into
Birmingham. Ala.
The corporation is one which un.
doubtedly takes the Government into
what is ordinarily regarded as private
business, but it is causing the Govern
ment no losses and 1t is giving
service which private enterprise does
not seem able Or willing at this time
to give.
Not far from. Birmingham, the ter
minus of the Inland Waterways Cor
poration, there Is the big dam and the
big power plant. both federally owned,
that go under the name of Muscle
Shoals.
Muscle Shoals Question.
No ingenuity in Washington seems
capable Of devising an acceptable plan
for either leasing or selling the Muscle
Shoals power plant to a private CON-
pany. The bargain always seems to
be perilous to the interests of the
Government. The plant remains in
public hands. 1t seems likely to con-
tinue to do so. The problem begins to
narrow down to the striking of bar
gains for the sale of publicly owned
and produced power to private distri-
button companies or to municipalities
in the vicinity.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, to en-
able the Secretary of War to make
better sales and to get higher prices
for this public power at Muscle
Shoals, will introduce a resolution au-
thorizing the Secretary of War to
build transmission lines out into the
country surrounding Muscle Shoals in
order to be able to reach distant Gus.
toners in case the nearby customers
refuse to pay reasonable prices.
In the meantime Senator Johnson
of California is earnestly and busily
pressing his famous bill for a feder-
ally constructed dam and power plant
at Boulder Canyon in the Colorado
River.
Nobody seriously denies that the
power from that plant can speedily
be used in the great Southwest. No.
body denies that while the Govern.
ment is building the dam for flood
control and for irrigation. it might
just as well simultaneously build the
plant for power. The problem then,
from the standpoint of genuine puolic
interest. simply is:
What shall be done with the power