The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-05-03
By Hugh Mitchell
D. s. Senator from Washington

CThis is the fourth in q series Of
articles in which Sen. Hugh
Mitchell explains why the situa-
ton in the Pacific Northwest re-
quires an overall coordinating
organization, and what sort Of
eva Is proposed in the bill he re-
Gently introduced into Congress)
Convinced of the need for an
overall authority which will CO.
ordinate all activities for regional
development, and feeling strongly
that the establishment Of such an
authority is urgent, if we are to
be prepared for the transition
from a war economy to peace, I
introduced into the Senate on
February S, 1915, a bill which was
read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
The bill proposes to establish q
Columbia Valley Authority Gin
order to safeguard the navigable
waters in the Columbia Valley
region and to promote navigation,
to provide for the control and the
prevention of floods and the rec
lamation of lands, and to en-
courage the fuller development
andutilization of the resources Of
the region, all for the purpose Of
mineral and forest resources of
conserving the water, soil,
the nation, relieving unemploy-
ment and promoting the general
welfare of the United States"
This broad, many-purpose pro-
gram is to be carried out by a
federal regional agency, a cor
poration to be known as the Co.
lumbia Valley Authority. The
corporation is to have its head
quarters in some central place in
the region and will be controlled
by three directors, appointed by
the President with the advice
and consent of the Senate.
MERIT SYSTEM
All other employees are to be
chosen by the corporation itself,
and it is specifically stated that
no political test or qualification is
to be required, but that all en-
ployment and promotion must be
on q basis Of merit and efficiency.
at may be noted here that an
inflexible application Of the merit
system has been one Of the great
successes Of the IVA. No senator,
nor anyone else, can get an app1-
cant on the payroll of the IVA
through pressure. If q man Is
good, he gets the job. There is
no other way to do it,
The board Of three directors
Of the eva is required regularly
to consult with an advisory coun-
Gil of seven, which will be COM
posed Of one representative each
from Idaho, Montana, Oregon; and
Washington, appointed by the
governors; and Of three repre-
sentatives from the public at
large, residents Of the region, ap-
pointed by the President with the
consent Of the Senate This coun-
Gil will be thoroughly familiar
with the region and its require
ments, and together with the
board Of directors, constitutes the
local functioning unit.
NATIONAL TIE
In order to tie in the regional
activities Of the eva with nation
al programs, the bill establishes q
National River Basin Develop
ment Board, whose duties It will
be to review all recommendations
Of the eva and coordinate them
with national plans and policies,
and with the programs Of any
other regional authorities. The
chairman Of this national board
will be the secretary Of the in
terror, and other members the
secretary Of agriculture, the chief
of engineers of the War Depart
ment, the chairmen Of the boards
Of directors Of IVA, of eva, and
Of any other authorities created
later.
The first duty Of the eva will
be to consider all the plans that
have already been made relating