The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-03
River Development
 Program Formulated
Conn. Light Power Company Clarifies Position in
 Federal Undertaking; President Campbell Explains

The Connecticut Light and Power company is one of the one hundred and sixty-seven of the nations elec- tric light and power companies, rep resenting a large part of the busi- ness managed electric industry, which have made known, in joint statement their position with regard to proposed river developments by the United States government. These developments, providing for the creation of the Missouri Valley Authority and other projects similar to IVA, as well as the completion of several already in operation, en- tail an estimated initial expenditure in excess of $3,850, 100000.
 Specific Points
 Four specific points are made by the electric companies in defining their attitude toward these govern ment undertakings:
 l. Whenever a dam is proposed, all of its purposes should be clearly defined in the legislation-f1ood con- trol, navigation, irrigation or power.
 2. Government produced power should be sold to existing power Sys- tems without special privilege or dis crimination, so as to avoid costly duplication and to insure widest use and lowest rates
 3. Any savings thus effected should be passed along to consumers under state or other regulations.
 4. Government may properly reg ulate business, but should not oper- ate business.
 Clarifies Situation
 c. L. Campbell, president of the Connecticut Light & Power com pany, one of the 167 companies sponsoring the statement, made the following comment regarding it:
 This announcement is designed to clarify the position of the elec- tric companies regarding river de- velopments along the batter of IVA. The companies have been wrongfully charged with attempting to block such valley developments.
 This is an injustice to the elec- trio companies. We do not oppose any government project of this kind provided it is economically sound. What does concern us is the threat of annihilation of the business managed electric industry by the use of taxpayers money to subsidize government power plants unfairly competing with the American bus mess man.
 The statement in full follows:
 "River development and flood control rank high on the list oF Americas postwar plans. Many of these projects call for dams which may also produce electric power.
 River Development
 This involves issues that sho:.ld be discussed and settled now-rivers to craSS in advance.
 Many of us in the power business have had a long experience with riverside plants, in the production of both steam-generated and hydro electric power. In fairness to all taxpayers and in the interest of the many million users of electricity, we think we ought to outline our con- victions and suggestions on river de- velopment and flood control.
 "1. When a dam is proposed, all of it's purposes should be clearly de- fined in the legislation - flood con- trol. navigation, irrigation or power. And just as clearly, the benefit to the people affected should justify the cost.
 g. If power is produced at gov- ernment-built dams, it should be sold to existing power systems, without special privileg or discrim- ination. This will save the expensive of transmission facili- ties, help to coordinate the entire power supply of each region, and assure it's widest possible use at the lowest practical rates.
 8. Any savings made possible by this plan should be passed along to the users of electricity, under regulation by State Commissions or other properly constituted regula- tory bodies. This will assure all the benefits of river development and hydro-power without the added ex- pense of government going into bus mess and competing with its own citizens
 A. Government in any business endangers all business. Government in business escapes many normal