Evening star., 1938-12-03
Flood Policy
Of 7. Y. A. Hit by
Ex.Chairman
Says Control Plan
For Defense Is
Dangerous
BACKGROUND

LII. AfLHHT f.. M organ as i. V. A.
chairman last March after he re-
fused TO discuss NTH the Presi-
dent the dissension ,Uhich had
developed tDithin the T. V. A.
DR.. Morgan insisted a congress-
siondl inquiry ,Dds needed and
said he ,oould present his side
OF the case only to committee
OF Congress. Since then he has
testified four times before the
joint House-Senate group con-
Quoting the inquiry.
By the Associated Press.
DR.. Arthur E. Morgan, ,ousted
Tennessee Valley Authority chair
man, charged today that the re-
manning directors of the vast Gov
ernment project were committed to
a dangerous policy of endangering
flood control for national defense.
That is on of the matters on
which I have taken issue with my
associates in T. v. A." DR.. Morgan
told the congressional committee in
vestigating the vast administration
project.
DR.. Morgan said that when the
Government builds triple-purpose
dams to combine power, flood con-
troll and navigation it was very
dangerous to talk of increasing
power facilities for national defense
by infringing on the flood control
features.
Flood control must be held in
violate as national policy" DR..
Morgan said. his voice rising.
Although scheduled to begin testi-
mony at $50 am, DR.. Morgan was
forced to wait nearly two hours
while Representatives Jenkins, Re-
publican, of Ohio and Wolverton
Republican, of New Jersey cross
questioned Theodore B Parker, chief
engineer OF T. v. A.
Fourth Appearance.
Opening his testimony-his fourth
appearance before a congressional
group since his custer by President
Roosevelt-Dr. Morgan said there
were several matters I would like
to testify on"
He said these were:
i. Previous testimony before the
committee by David E. Lilienthal
and Harcourt A. Morgan, T. v. A,
directors with whom he quarreled
over wholesale costs of T. v. A.
power" on the basis of a three dam
system.
2. The "yardstick program. as II
Is commonly called, in regard to cost
OF power to yardstick communities. ,
3. whether these communities
are self-sustaining in their power
program"
4. Power facilities when seven T.
V. A. dams are completed.
S. THE matter of ALLEGATION OF
costs and sales to the Arkansas
Power Co. and the Aluminium Co.
and Others"
Chairman Donahey suspended
testimony when DR.. Morgan took the
stand to permit half a dozen photog-
raphers to snap the ousted chair
man, who grinned and pulled up a
red checkered necktie.
Now look serious and be reading
something, Doctor" Senator Dona
hey said, and the witness complied
Turns to Defense Angle.
After outlining his testimony, DR.
Morgan turned to the national de-
fense angle. He recalled that Mr.
Parker, present chief T. v. A. engi-
neer. said yesterday that T. v. A.
power output during war might be
greatly stepped up by filling dams
higher than planned for flood con-
troll.
This would be extremely danger
Gus, DR.. Morgan said emphatically
because regions relying on flood con-
troll features of multi-purpose dams
would be worse off in time of flood
than if they had not depended on
dams.
President Roosevelt removed DR..
Morgan from the Craftsmanship last
March % after the gray-haired en-
gineer- educator refused to discuss
with him the dissension that had
developed within the T. v. A. Board.
Removal Challenged.
DR.. Morgan has since brought suit
challenging the right of the President
to remove him. The President has
promoted DR.. Harcourt A. Morgan,
T. V. A. director, to the chairman
ship.
Two Republican committee men,
bers who have protested DR.. Nor
gan's dismissal, Representatives
Wolverton and Jenkins, engaged in
running dispute yesterday with
Engineer Parker over how much of
the agency's cost should be charged
to power, navigation and flood con-
troll.
Critics of T. v. A. have contended
its power rates are lower than they
otherwise would be because millions
of dollars Of costs have been allo-
Gated to flood control and naviga-
ton, making the rates an unfair
yardstick for comparison with pri-
vate utilities.
Mr.. Parker defended T. v. AS
cost ALLEGATION of 50 per cent to
power, 28 per cent to navigation and
20 per cent to flood control. He
argued that the Government was
getting lot for its money" by
combining these purposes in a CO.
ordinated system of dams.
Worth and Costs Disputed.
In their questioning, Representa-
tives Jenkins and Wolverton dis
puted the worth and costs of navi-
cation and flood control features.
Mr.. Wolverton asked the engineer
why no part of the costs had been
charged to national defense.
I'VE tried to be as conservative as
possible and avoid criticism" Mr..
Parker replied.
The engineer contended, however,
T. v. A. dams would prove a potent
factor in national defense because
the area was well-protected from