Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-02
A Political Symbol,

ing the Muscle Shoals bill, given to the
press Saturday, was regarded as fore
runner of a veto of that measure.
Indeed, It has been expected that the
President would withhold his approval
of the bill, since IL proposes to place the
Government in the field not only of the
generation of power, but also of dis
tribution, not to mention the manufac-
ture and sale of nitrates for fertilizing
purposes. Mr.. Hoover sees the measure
turned into political symbol" In
this he is entirely correct.
The demand for proper development
Of the great water power in the valley
Of the Tennessee River has come from
many persons who are not In favor Of
thrusting the Government into the
power business or into the business Of
producing and selling fertilizer, as well
as from those who favor Government
ownership and operation. But because
Of the conflict of opinions in regard to
Government ownership and operation,
it has been almost impossible to look
at Muscle Shoals merely from the
standpoint of those wishing to do the
best that may be done for the people
who hope to be benefited by this project.
The President has announced that he
would examine the proposed legislation
from the point of view of an engineer
and seek as far as possible to keep out
the political issue, In his final decision
on the bill. 1t does not appear possible,
however, to avoid the consideration of
the principle Of Government ownership
and operation involved.
The President apparently realizes
that If he does not give his approval to
the Muscle Shoals bill he will draw
down upon his head the criticism Of
advocates Of Government ownership
and operation Of hydro-electric power
projects. He realizes that he will be
classed by these critics as a friend, even
an ally, Of the power trust" and, as
such, foe Of the people. To the sup
porters Of Government operation at
Muscle Shoals there seems to be no
middle ground. They would have the
people believe that it is impossible for
the Chief Executive, or any one else, to
be honestly opposed to Government
operation and at the same time to be
honestly opposed to the "trust." The
injustice Of such criticism is quite EVIL
dent.
Mr.. Hoover in his messages to Con-
gress has urged the passage Of 1egisla-
ton which would give the Federal Gov
eminent authority to regulate power"
which goes into interstate commerce.
He regards such legislation as inpera-
tive If the power problem is to be dealt
with adequately by the Government in
the interests Of the people. Senator
Couzens Of Michigan and other mem
bers Of Congress have proposed bills 10
bring about such regulation. Yet moth
ing has been done with them. The
President suggests that It would have
been far more to the interest Of the
consumers of power and light to put
through this kind of legislation than
to give so much time TO the Muscle
Shoals bill. The President believes In
the proper regulation Of the power and
light business by Government, not in
Government invasion Of that field of
business.
II the President sends veto message
to Congress dealing with the Muscle
Shoals bin, 1t is believed that the veto
VIII be sustained. More than a third
Of the total membership Of the House
voted against the bill when the con-
ference report was before that body for
action. In the Senate also the veto
may be sustained, though the vote there
is likely to be closer. With water power
threatening to become an issue in the
next national campaign, legislators are
considering carefully what Is the better
course for them to pursue. It is, Of
course, within the power Of the Presi-
dent to give the bill pocket veto" be-
cause it reached him so late. But the
belief now prevails that the President
viii not adopt such q course, but will
set forth his reasons clearly for not
approving the bill, and at the same time
return the measure to the Senate, where
1t originated.