The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-05-03
Mitchell Outlines Provisions Of
eva Bill Now IN CONGRESS

OOss sO~ ..
to water control and resource de-
velopment, and then formulate its
own Recommendations for the uni
fled development Of the Columbia
Valley region. Its complete plan
for the migrated control and use
of the. waters Of the Columbia
River system must give particu-
lar consideration to ID the con-
troll and prevention of floods; (2)
the promotion of river navigation;
60 the reclamation of lands by
irrigation and drainage; ~ the
prevention of stream pollution; 80
and, so far as is consistent with
the above four aims, the plan
should consider the use of water
for power, irrigation, and other
beneficial uses; the use of soil,
mineral and forest resources; and
the development Of multiple pur-
pose projects.
In order to achieve these pri-
mary purposes with the greatest
public benefit, to create, employ
ment, and to prevent waste of
water and water power, the eva
is given various powers, among
them the right to acquire, con-
struct, and maintain the facilities
required, and the right to make
contracts. But it is definitely
stated that nothing in the act
shall be construed "as affecting or
interfering in any way with
the laws of any state relating to
the control, appropriation, use or
distribution of water; or as an
nulling or limiting any vested
right acquired" under those laws.
ABsoRBs BONNEVILLE
The bill directs the eva to
work with existing agencis in for
mulating its program, and au-
thorizes other federal depart
ments and agencies to participate
in eva activities on mutually
agreeable terms. The functions,
facilities, and personnel Of the
Bonneville Power Administration,
however, are to be completely abb
sorbed into the new organization.
In the field Of power, the pres
ent policies established by the
Bonneville Act are reiterated in
the bill. It provides for sale Of
surplus power, with preference
to public agencies and coopera-
tives, and directs that electric
rates be low enough to encourage
widest possible use, yet sufficient
to amortize the investment facili-
ties, and be uniform throughout
the area. In addition, power is
granted to eva to acquire private
power facilities; but it must sell
the distribution facilities 50 ac-
quired as rapidly as possible to
local public agencies, and also
the transmission and generating
facilities If these can be more
economically operated by such
agencies.
The bill limits the resale price
Of water purchased from the Au-
thority, and limits also, to q reas-
enable sum, the sale price Of re-
claimed land. Further, the eva
may conduct research and de-
velopment on minerals, fertilizers,
and other materials, construct
processing plants, and sell fertil-
ZerS to farmers.
TO PAY TAXES
The financial set-up for the
eva is simple and sufficiently au-
tonomous to carry on its busi-
ness. The funds for operating II
must be voted by Congress-; the
books Of the corporation must
be audited yearly BY the y. s.
Comptroller General; and all
earnings above costs must be paid
into the treasury. However, the
Authority may issue revenue
bonds to cover costs for the con-
structien or acquisition of prop
critics, and both the u. S. Treas
ury and the Reconstruction FL
nance Corporation are empowered
to purchase such bonds. Payments
in lieu of taxes to state and local
governments are set up, in aver
age amounts equivalent to what
had been paid by any private
utilities that are taken over by