The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-15


 water for irrigation, cheap electri- city, decentralization as against ur- ban congestion, new opportunities for millions and employment for the unemployed are among the objec- tlVes.
 | Six More Authorities
 Senator George W. Norris of Me- braska, recently i'll, Is back here in good health. He has 0 remarkable record of success on legislative ob- jectives, 50 something seems more or less bound to happen.
 His own bill, after putting the Cumberland river basin and sections of the Mississippi valley under IVA, would create six other planning de-. velopment authorities.
 These would be set up In cor- p0rate form, with administrative power over regional power. wa. ter, forest and soil projects. Each authority would operate, as does IVA, with . lump sum and dts. cretionary power to decide how, when and where the money should be spent.
 Congressman Mansfield of Texas, chairman Of the House Rivers and Harbors committee, also has e bill, It provides for planning--but not for actual development-of similar re- gional districts by regional boards which would make recommendations to congress. Congress would then, If it saw ft, have the regular dc. partmentS of government carry out tho recommendations, Any power development begun In this way would have It's own individual ad. ministrator,
 Compromise Is Likely
 The issue between the two bills, Involving congressional delegation of power, iS likely to be solved by a compromise which would create au. thorities similar to IVA for two new regions and create planning author ities for four others,
 The Columbia Valley Authority, for the drainage basins of the Co. lumbla and of rivers flowing into the Pacific north of the Callfor- mia. Oregon line. would be one of the two new authorities under such . cGmpr0mlse. Whether the other would cover the s. Lawrence. Great Lakes area or the South. western Authority--coverlng the basins of the Colorado. rivers flow. Ing Into the Pacific south of the California Oregon line and the Great Basin-ls speculative.
 Other authorities proposed by Norris would Do tho Atlantic Sea- board, Missouri Valley and Arkan- Sas Valley authorities.
 The IVA record Is c strong talk. Ing point for proponents of the Nor- riS bill, as is tho idea of submitting specific projects in specific regions to a board which theoretically would have q scientific approach and 6 maximum localized representation.
 Army engineers, with firmly en- trenched lobby and Q distaste for public power development, are op- posed to the Norris plan because it would take from them Jurisdiction over inland navigation flood control and other aspects Of regional plan- ming,
 To Wreck the IVA
 The whole proposal Is involved with the running battle between Roosevelt and the public utilities.
 Power interests are sending their shock troops in against the Norris plan, claiming 1t would destroy and diSplace the private power industry.
 But aside from the proposed st. Lawrence development, contingent on an international treaty, the only area available for large-scale public power development is that of the Columbia river area, which already has the Bonneville and Grand C0ulee projects, municipal plants In Seattle and Tacoma and widespread public power senti- ment.
 The real purpose of the power in- terests is to wreck IVA and their suit arguing against IVA constittu- tionality will be heard by the Su- preme Court in its present term. Congress Is unlikely to act on re- gional planning proposals before the court hands down its IVA decision. Copyright, 1887, NEA Service, Incl
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