The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-09-08
Ickes Wants Sole Control
And No Debating Society"


utilities. including their news
papers. you viii find them. In
the name Of holy democracy
and sacred local autonomy. in
Weighing against one man
administrator and elaguentls
advocating . three man de-
batting society"
Here the secretary called upon
any dissatisfied with the present
Bonneville administration 70 lite
mize their dissatisfaetions
They elsmor for a three-man
board he continued. while ad-
hitting that Or Raver and the de-
partment Of the interior have done
an excellent job"
Iekes pointed out that IVA IL
operated by three-man board,
true. but he cited differences be-
tween IVA and Bonneville IVA
he cited as great social expert
ment Of which "one phase IL the
development OF power" Reclaim
alton is not q factor at IVA, but
II will become factor with
Columbia river development at
Grand Coulee. along with the nsyi-
CATION and power elements OF the
Bonneville development.
While IVA may require
thfee-man board. because Of
characteristics which distin-
guish II from bonneville q rand
CouIee. u does not follow, he
declared. that three man
beard II needed for an entirely
different kind of project.
Experience" he said has
shown that a multiple administra-
tive board Is OF doubtful efficiency.
II YOU have two strong men. you
are going TO have a cat and dog
fight. II you have one strong man
and two weak men. the strong
man will dominate. ! prefer 10
have one strong man because he
can be held responsible There can
be no buck passing. l have always
believed that an executive job
should be In charge OF an sNecu-
tive" He went on 10 cite numer-
Gus instances OF federal depart
msnts and branches under One-man
sdministrsti
Referring again to newspapers
Iekes loves TO barb them he asked
How we'll would a newspaper be
run whose publisher or managing
editor could not make decision
as 10 what news to print without
calling In two associates who pos
sessed equal power and perhaps
louder voices How much respect
would you have for the president
OF the United States II he could
not decide a matter requiring an
instant decision until he called IN
two co-presidents with whom to
debate the subject
The weakness In the case
OF those who would substitute
n different type OF admins
tratiOn at Bonneville Grand
toulee IL that. 80 far "a.
know. they haven't single
valid complaint against the
way Ia which Bonneville has
been run. Certainly ~. should
not he asked 10 scrap n sss-
TEN which has proved its ca
paeity for some vague and
theoretical ideas which add up
to three men PLAYING tanEie-
foot Instead Of one man free
10 act. And II three, why not
five or seven 81 eleven There
are always lsn~ ducks looking
for weil-psying sinecures."
On the subject ~ local control
Iekes asserted Bonneville could
/ hardly b. any more local than
Il h with s5 per cent Of is per
sonnet bona fids residents 81 Ore
gor and Warrington. with branch
offices in Seattle. Yakima. spo-
kane and Eugene IN addition to
the head office ~ Portland.
The secretary indicated the fed
+ ersi government could not be *
/ pecfsd 20 turn The Columbia river
system over 10 the northwest
states individually or collectively
until the national treasury has
been reimbursed for the funds sx-
pended here
'-Ths federal government h.
said mas not Invested itself u
control over Boulder cam Or IVA
Or any other project built with
federal funds Merely 20 suggest
sueh action until the amounts in
vested have been repaid would
probably have the effect Of
alternating from these western
projects eastern votes without
which ~ additional appropriation
could pass congress n = hard
enough az i "a 70 perEus1s eastern