The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-05-10
1.s;aral Autonomy and National
,;.aiion Is Mitchell Plan

ficials located there to know in
detail the day to day needs, OF
even the year to year needs, Of 9
part OF the country so far away.
With the best will in the world
an annual or semi-annual visit OF
five or six days is insufficient to
inform anyone of the detailed and
intimate developments of a part
of the world so different from the
national capitol or from any other
part of the nation. Aside from
distance, the time element is i'm
portant. Having to refer all &C.
tivities to Washington, these agen-
cles can never make immediate
or prompt decisions.
An organization acting on the
ground and having a thorough
knowledge Of the region is needed.
This need has led to the wording
which determines the the type OF
authority set up by my bill.
The Bill creates a Corporation
which will be operated by board
of three directors appointed by
the president for staggered nine
year terms. It also creates Col
umbia Valley Advisory Council
composed of seven members four
to be selected by the respective
governors of the states of Idaho,
Montana, Oregon and Washing
ton; and three to be selected from
the Pacific Northwest region at
large by the president with the
advice. and consent of the senate.
The board of three directors is re-
quired to advise and consult regu-
larly with the Council. -
Area Of Control -.
The region over which the Au-
thority has control is the Column
bia River watershed within the
boundaries, of the United States,
plus those portions of the states
of Washington and Oregon which
are not within the watershed.
This is the region within which
development can mean so much
to all the people. Development
must include a plan for the control
and utilization Of the water Of the
Columbia River watershed. Plans
made by the Authority become eff
fective within four months from
the time they are received by
Congress, unless the Congress def
initely rejects them within that
period. All its activities are the
sole business of the Columbia VAL
ley Authority, once its general
plan has been approved by Con-
gress.
The corporation is granted broad
powers to construct and operate
projects in the region to carry out
the purposes Of the Act which in
clude reclamation, flood control,
navigation and power production.
The corporation may also dispose
of surplus electric energy in ac-'
cordance with policies already
made familiar in the Pacific North
west. It may also dispose Of wa
ter according to specific policies
which are established in the Fed
eral reclamation laws.
How and through what person
mel these activities should take
place is left to the discretion Of
the Authority, since all the indi-
viduals In key places must have
expert knowledge of the region.
Unhampered, the eva activity
will quickly start program Of
regional development.
on> National Roard
The only brake on the free ex-
ercise of power by the eva win
reside in National River Basin
Development Board. This board Il
established by the Bill to act on
a national plane and to coordinate
all the reginal activities that may
result from the establishment Of
many regional authorities. This
board is composed Of the Secretary
of Interior who acts as chairman,
The Secretary Of Agriculture, the
Chief of Engineers of the War De-
and the chairman Of the
board of directors of IVA and CIV
A, and any subsequently created
regional authorities.
The chairman of this National
board is specifically required to
direct the activities of the author
ity to the extent necessary "0)
to insure effectuation of policies,
regional in scope, set forth by the
(2) to insure conform
ity of regional plans and programs
with national plans; 60 to coor-
dinate the programs and under
takings of the corporation and
those of other Federal agencies
having related functions within
or affecting the region; a. to re-