Evening star., 1953-08-24
New Power Policy

power policy represents departure, but not
a spectacular one, from the principles followed
in this field during 20 years of Democratic ad-
ministration. What it foreShadowS is a de-
emphasis of the Federal role in the development
of hydroelectric projects-a de-emphaSiS in
keeping with the Republican philosophy, as
repeatedly enunciated by President Eisenhower,
that the National Government should not
undertake to do what the States and localities
can do just as well, and by right ought to do.
by working either through their own public
agencies or through private enterprise.
Thus, in it's statement-the first of its kind
since the one issued in 1946 by the late Secretary
Tckes-the Interior Department declares that
the primary responsibility for supplying power
needs of an area rests with the people locally"
AS for the Federal role, as it is to be carried
out by the department, it consists principally
of reclaiming arid and semiarid lands and
giving Leadership and assistance in the con-
servation and wise utilization of natural re-
sources" This role includes the output and
disposal of surplus electric energy which can
be economically produced in the course of the
development of these resources" but it does
not mean that the National Government as
sumes "the exclusive right or responsibility for
the construction of dams or the generation
transmission and sale of electric energy in any
area, basin or region"
Far from assuming such right, the In
terror Department asserts in its outline of
policy that it will not oppose, as a general
thing the construction of generating facilities
(which local interests either public or private,
are willing and able to provide" in manner
"conSonant with the best development of the
natural resources of the area" Secretary
Douglas Mckay has already translated this
withdrawing the departments past opposition
to an Idaho companyS application for
license to build three small dams in the Hells
Canyon region. This controversial case, which
has yet to be decided, is a good illustration
of how the Republican attitude toward power
departs from that of the Roosevelt and Truman
administrations
However, while thus accomplishing the
Federal role, the Interior Department vigorously
affirms that it will not be passive but will
actively plan and recommend construction of
generating facilities in hydro projects under
its jurisdiction when such facilities are economi-
cally justified and feasible" 1t further aff1rms
that it will place particular stress on those
multipurpose projects with hydroelectric de-
velopments which, because of size or complexity,
are beyond the means of local public or private
enterprise" Moreover, as if to reassure wor-
riers who expect that "robber baronS" will get
the better of an allegedly eaSygoing Republi-
can administration, the departments statement
makes clear that the National Government is
not going to give away anything to anybody and
that the consumer will be protected in practi-
cally the same manner as in years past.
This protection, according to the depart
ment will be aimed at things like insuring that
Federally generated electricity, when furnished
to private companies for resale to domestic
and rural customers, will be supplied to those
customers "at the lowest rates which shall
reflect as nearly as possible the cost of the
service plus reasonable return on the invest
ment at work" Having this and similar asSur-
ances in mind President Eisenhower has
hailed the new policy as one calculated to
"Serve the best interests of all the people OF
the United States" The principles involved
are certainly sound, and if they are firmly
adhered to in practice, there will be no setback
as some fear-in the continuing development
of our vital power and other natural resources.