The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-19
Flood Control Plans . Played By Governor
Wilbur L. Cross DenOunces BFOwn-Casey Bill at Thr-
 teenth New England Conference in Boston

1t was "only natural" that the au- thors of the New England flood con- trol compact should assume that the title to the land would remain with the signatory states.
 The governor pointed out that after the New England compact was rejected the War Department sent out circular letter which would require the states to convey to the United States title to lands where dams and reservoirs which have potential power values, are to be constructed.
 since the receipt of this letter, Governor Cross declared, "represen- tatives of all the New England states have met in Boston and have gwen careful attention to the pres- ent status of the compact. It was unanimously voted to recommend 10 the governors Cf the states that an inquiry be addressed to the secre- tary of war and to the Federal Pow CT Commission, asking for informa- ton as to the existence of power potentialities at any or all of the reservoir sites named in both the Connecticut River Compact and the Merrimac River Compact"
 The governors have made this m- ouiry because If there are no eco- nomically feasible power potential ities at these sites, then both the objection as to the ownership of the sites of the reservoirs and the ques- ton of power development disap- pear, he explained.
 The Connecticut Valley Compact, he pointed out, was approved With- out comment by the Commerce Committee of the Senate and was also approved by the Flood Control Committee of the House with an "entirely unobjectionable reserVa- ton to the effect that nothing in the compact should be considered as subtracting from the power now exercised by tho secretary of war and the Federal Power Comtnis" sion."
 "This action," the Connecticut governor said, twas taken In the House against the militant opposi- ton of one member from Massa' chusetts and three members from Connecticut---two of whom live in the Connecticut Valley In places where the inundation spread dis- aster to the tune of twenty. .f1Ve millions of dollars. These four members of the House and e lone senator from New Hampshire, pre- sumably living In the Merrimac basin, seem to have joined hands in favor of a little IVA in the north country, as If the small streams running through those beautifui valleys and farmsteads, separatedi by hills or mountains, could be tied into power system similar to what has been accomplished In tho rem nessee River watershed.
 T am as profoundly interested as a,,y citizen of New England" he continued, "in the reduction ot rates for electricity to the point of liye-ar,d- -let-liYc; but much as l love music, I cannot play the Violin while Rome Is burning. For me there is no amusement In twisting the tails of power companies, If in- deed they have tails. I want results, and I hope that the President ana the power companies recently in conference will discover a formula which may be reasonably satisfac- tory.
 Nor can I 90 along with the so- called Brown Casey bill," Governor Cross stated, which was introo- auced in Congress just before ad' journment as Q substitute measure for the Connecticut and Merrimac Cornpacts. This bill bearing the name of two of the five men who are It's sponsors has the distinction of being 50 loosely drawn that It