The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-15

Two bills vitality affecting fu-
ture Of the Pacific northwest have
been introduced in congress. Both
bills would set up a permanent
Columbia Power authority to re-
place the present temporary
agency operating Bonneville and
Grand Coulee electric systems.
Both bills provide machinery for
acquisition of privately-owned cleo
trio utilities by the authority. and
resale to cities and PUBS of
the distribution systems 80 sc-
puired.
But these bills differ otherwise
on seven important principles and
on many details. One Of these bills
was drafted wholly by the interior
department. with certain revisions
suggested by Senator Bone. The
other, known as s. 1882. was
drafted by Senator Bone. with the
aid of Congressman Martin Smith,
other members OF the states con-
gressional delegation. officers of
the interior and treasury depart
ments, representatives of the fed
sral power commission. and rep
resentativek of labor and other or
CARNATIONS. This Ia the Bone
Smith bill.
SEVEN REAL ISSUES
While Mr.. Iekes In speeches In
the northwest has conveyed the
impression tina. the issue raised
by the two bills is whether one man
or three men shall run the au-
thority, that Is relatively a minor
issue, although not without i'm
portance. Here are the real issues:
shall the authority be plunged
into politics by being made
mere arm of a political bureau,
the department of interior; or be
q non-political independe
agency?
9-Shall the authority be run by
an oliiClhi osuuu HIVE away III
Washington, ID. c.: or be operated
by q fully responsible board resid-
ing In the region of operation?
9-Shall the authority be allowed
= to exercise arbitrary and die
tatorial control over municipali-
ties with which 1t does business;
or shall the authority be restricted
by law to permit large measure
Of local autonomy to cities. towns
and public utility districts In OPP
GRAFTON of their plants7
A-Shall employees Of Columbia
River authority he denied
rights important to labor and en-
joyed by employees of private bust
ness and by employees of IVA;
or shall the authority he required
by law to bargain collectively with
its employees?
e-Shail the administrator Of CO.
> lumbia Power authority be APP
pointed by the secretary of interior
without notice and without posi-
bility of appeal or hearing; or
shall q board or single administra-
tor be appointed by the president
and confirmed by the senate after
public hearings7
shall we rely on the vague
y hope that future congresses
win appropriate to develop the Co
lumbia Basin Irrigation project;
or shall adequate and definite pro-
vision for construction Of the
project BE- made now
SHALL the authority be 30 sur
. rounded with bureaucratic rou-
tine and red tape that II will take
weeks to accomplish what ought
TO Be- done In days; or shall the
agency b set up like . modern
strsamlined private business?
yCKEs BILL II UNeOUND
The Ickes bill places the Column
bia Power authority in politics
and would permit any secretary
of interior TO change without no
tice the policies and high admins
trative personnel OF the authority.
The present or any future secre-
tary could appoint an administra-
TOR without senate confirmation or
even q public hearing.
IL would he possible In the
future to have IN sdministra-
tor appointed who 10 opposed
- the principles and practice
~ operating public power
agencies. In other words. the
secretary Of interior would bs
tire real administrator. and
every time the national ad-
ministrnfion changed or . new
secretary was appointed. the
Columbia Power authority
would be In jeopardy.
ardy.
On the other hand. the Bone
Smith bill provides for operation
along the lines OF IVA tn
president would appoint a boar
Of three. subject to senate confir
nation. II there were any douo
about the character and quslifi
cations Of q nominee. he could b
the
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