White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-02-18
HILL IN DISCUS "
SION OF POWER
"MARTYR" ITO UNPOPULAR
CAUSE, CONGRESSMAN
HOLDS THE FORT

olooUo lidthOliStt dItellLlOll over night,
It's members are busy thinking a.
bout the type of legislation which
may take months or even years to
finally enact. Work of this sort
usually has little headline value and
is the work of blocs or committees.
Much of the important future le-
gislation thus begins in the bloc
bud stage, grows as the movement
gains increasing favor, and then
blooms into public views and APP
prevail
One OF the years important legis-
latiWe buds is the public power ques-
ton. With tine obvious success of
the IVA, this thorn to monopolistic
private power companies has started
new buds. EARLY this year, Con-
gresham john E. Rankin, of Missis-
sippi, co-auhhor of the iva bill,
and few other power enthusiasts
formed the Congressional Power
bloc. Because of my interest in the
subject and my authorship Of the
Columbia Valley Authority, was
chosen Secretary. In Less than
month, the bloc has grown to M
clnde III congressman. Not all are
Democrats, nor are all New Deal
ers. A subject Of such universal In
terest can know no political limita-
tioas.
Purpose Of the bloc Is to ezcour-
age legislation wiaich will place the
generation, transmission and tistxi-
button cf electrical energy In the
haiats Of tine government The group
suggests that II 1t is possible to &C.
quire transmission Lines at reason
able costs, the government should
do this. II not, the government is
to build its own transmission lines.
Surplus power should be sold to
county power districts, nnuuicipali-
ties and private companies, giving
the first two groups preference. Pr1-
vate companies should be compelled
to base their rates "om the govern
nent yartatbck. Only this way can
power be made available to every
home at reasonable rates.
But each Of the Congressman in
the bloc know THAT IN supporting
the interest Of public power, they
may be signing their own politicaa
death warrant. Private power CON-
panies, eager to continue their mo-
nopoly, viii create one OF the
strongest Hobbies In history to de-
feat the movement. Individual
congressman will he the subject Of
concentrated shipping.
Waahington's bid for cheap pow
er will come after the completion
of the Coulee dam. Army engineers
state that the Pacific Northwest
now has one-fifth of the potential
water power Of the United States.
If SO, why not make this power a.
yailable to every city and farm
home at half the present costs, or
less? With the advent of cheap
power will come new industries,
which means more jobs, more local
consumption of homegrown COM
modities, and more money In circu-
lation
My last years CVA bill is now be-
ing redrafted by the Department OF
the Interior to insure the depart
ment's approval after the bill Is
passed by Congress. The new bill
will contain four salient points l.
the cheap and plentiful delivery OF
power to the residents of Washing
ton at fraction Of the present day
cost; 2z~the reclamation of 100000
desert acres by the Coulee dam; 3
the development Of incidental cheap
water transportation into the inter-
ior of Washington (Which will re-