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’ MINTON EXPLAINS DECISION ONT.V.A. Holds Water Power Clause in Constitution Is Author ity for Projects. (Continued from Page B»7.) mltted to be granted in the Constitu tion to the Federal Government. The Chief Justice points out in these words the two constitutional powers under which Congress acted In build ing Wilson Dam: “We take judicial notice of the international situation at the time the act of 1916 was passed, and It cannot be successfully ' disputed that the Wilson Dam and Its auxiliary plants, including the hydro-electric power plant, are and were Intended to be adapted to the purposes of national defense.” Points to Authority. Having determined that the elec tric energy was the property of the United States, the Chief Justice pointed out a provision 01 the con stitution which gave authority to Congress to dispose of the property of the United States, and observed: “That the water pow;r and the elec tric energy generated at the dam are susceptible of disposition as property belonging to the United States is well established.” But, said the stockholders, “even though it is Government property, the Congress has authority to dis pose of this energy only to the extent that it is a surplus, necessarily cre ated in making munitions of war, or operating the works for navigation purposes, and the balance must go to waste.” And these arc the gentlemen that shed crocodile tears over the ■laughter of little pigs! The Chief Justice was not much Impressed with the argument, and after saying: “We find nothing in the Constitution which imposes such a limitation,” he pnfceoded to reduce the argument to an absurdity by his own pointed argument in answer, and the citation of ample authority. . Finally, the stockholders, as a last resort, argued that even though the Government may sell its surplus, it can only do it at the dam, knowing, of course, that tneir corporation, the Alabama Power Co., was the only cus tomer capable of taking the power at this point. To this the Chief Jus tice replied: “We know of no con stitutional ground upon which the Federal Government can be denied the right to seek a wider market." Ana he sustained the power of the Gov ernment to acquire the transmission lines for the transmission of the elec tric current to the market. surplus May Be Sold. In short, the opinion holds that under the war powers and commerce clause of the Constitution, Congress may build these great dams in the navigable streams of the country. That the water power thus created may be converted into electr.city, instead of permitting it to go to waste, and when the electricity is generated it is the property of the United States. That any surplus energy thus generated may be sold by the Government and in order to enable the Government to market the surplus the Government may acquire the transmission facilities for the purpose of conveying the sur plus to the market. This is ample authority to sustain all the power projects under construction at this time, although there are other con stitutional powers that might be called on in aid of the powers mentioned by the court in the T. V. A. opinion. The average citizen asks, "How does this affect me?” First, it will help bring down the cost of electricity to the consumer. The average cost of a kilowatt hour of electricity, outside the T. V. A. area, is 5.1 cents per kilowatt hour, while it is only 3.1 cents in the T. V. A. area. Second, flood waters will be controlled and the devastating effect thereof lessened and the soil conserved. Third, trans portatlon costs will be lowered and with lower transportation and cheaper pow er the whole economic life of the people in that vast area will be bene fited. Not only this area will be bene fited, but under the exercise of this ad mitted power, Congress may develop the potential water power of the Na tion, make electricity a useful com modity in every household, because available on terms and conditions that will promote its extensive and uni versal use. Thus will be saved from exploitation by private parties a great national resource that belongs to all the people. Private Earnings Increased. We have heard it said that the Gov ernment’s activity, through T. V. A., is hurting the privately owned utilities. Let us see. The Tennessee Electric, Georgia Power and Alabama Power are the three chief coifipanies oper ating in this territory. All of these companies had substantially larger earnings in 1935 than 1934. The Ten nessee Electric Co., forced by T. V. A. to reduce rates, recovered the entire amount of the reduction in five months. Since then its revenues have been larger than before reduction, and this company, in the worst year, namely, 1934, won the Edison Institute award for “one of the most, if not the most, remarkable sales increases in residen tial. commercial and industrial power in the history of the electrical Indus try.” Georgia Power, the largest utility In the T. V. A. area, now ranks first among all companies east of the Rocky Mountains in kilowatt hour sales per customer, and its yearly average per customer is 60 per cent ahead of the national average. - As further evidence that T. V. A. has not hurt the privately owned utilities in its area, the sale of facili ties for the use of electricity gives eloquent and impressive evidence. In the first year after rate reductions, caused by T. V. A., Georgia Power Co. increased its sales of refrigerators 176 per cent; electric ranges, 676 per cent, and water beaters, 1,472 per cent. Tennessee Electric Co. increased refrigerator sales 329 per cent, ranges, 374 per cent, and water heaters, 774 per cent. This was not temporary, for the increase in sales was even greater after a second rate reduction. It is the old story of lower costs In ducing increased use, which justifies mass production at lower costs. Thus we see that private enterprise has not been injured and the public has benefited greatly. Court Decision Conclusive. The critics of this administration have been charging T. V. A. to be Socialistic and Communistic and sub versive of the purposes of our Gov ernment. The Liberty League, through its president, on last July 1, over the radio said: "If any experiment could be more radically Socialistic or more wholly contrary to the whole basic conceptions of our Government than the T. V. A., I am at a loss to Imagine It." But the Supreme Court says T. V. A. Is In keeping with and authorized by the Constitution. So in conclu sion, let me assure you that if you have been reading Liberty League propaganda and have been looking in the closet and under the bed every night, expecting to And a Socialist or Communist with a red Aag in one hand and a cheese knife in the other, to be lurking there, you may now rest your weary head upon your pillow in peace, for tha Supreme Court as sures you the T. V. A. is constitutional and American. You need no longer fear, nor believe in, the Communistic and Socialistic bugaboo of the Liberty League. I will tell you what you may believe in. When I tell you that James M. Beck and Newton D. Baker are reputed to have received $50,000 from the utilities for their opinion that T. V. A. was unconstitutional, you may believe in Santa Claus. The committee is empowered to ex amine "useless” bureaus and over lapping agencies with a view to their abolition or consolidation. Senator Byrd is a persistent critic of Gov ernment spending. lightning Strikes. Struck In the back of the neck by lightning, James Taylor, aged 32, was well enough to leave a Brighton, Eng land, hospital two hours afterward. fight mt I The safe way to fight a cough is that good old reliable - a Smith | I Brothers Cough Drop. (Two kinds: Black or Menthol— 5^.) | I Smith Bras. Cough Drops are the only drops containing VITAMIN A I 1 This is the vitamin that raises the resistance of the mucous | I membranes of the nose and throat to cold and cough infections: | quotes enter justice marsnau. “The act of 1915 also had in view Improvements to navigation.' Com merce includes navigation. 'All America understands and has uni formly understood ’ said Chief Jus tice Marshall, in Gibbons vs. Ogden, •the word commerce to comprehend navigation.’ The power to regulate Interstate commerce embraces the power to keep the navigable rivers of the United States free from obstruc tions to navigation and to remove such obstacles when they exist” • • • “The Tennessee Ri' er is a navigable 6tream, although tnere are obstruc tions at various )joints because of shoals, reefs and rapids. The im provement of navigation on this river has been a matter ct national concern for over a century.” * * * "When in its present condition the Tennessee River Is not adequately unproved for com mercial navigation, and traffic is small, we are not at liberty to conclude either that the river is not susceptible of development as an important water way, or that Congress has not under taken that development, or that con struction of the Wilson Dam was not an appropriate means to accomplish a legitimate end. The Wilson Dam and Its power plant must be taken to have been constructed in the exercise of the constitutional functions of the Federal Government ” The court hav ing determined the constitutional right to build the dam, next consid ered the right to dispose of the elec tric energy generated at the dam. The court said: "The Government ac quired full title to the dam site, with all riparian rights. The power of the falling water was an inevitable incident of the carstruction of the dam. That water power came into the exclusive control of the Federal Gov ernment. The mechanical energy was convertible into electric energy, and the water power, the right to convert it into electric energy, and the elec tric energy thus produced, constitute property belonging to the United States.” “ECZEMA’S ITCH IS UP TO YOU.” SAYS POSLAM You would not trade the grate ful relief and comfort for a hundred dollars that a single box cf Poslam often brings to itching, inflamed, eczema-tor tured skin. You can tell you are going to be helped because the very first touch of this concen trated, yet gentle ointment usually soothes the irritation and burning at once. Don’t de lay your relief. Get a box of Poslam right away, at your drug gist, 50c, or we will send you a convincing trial free. Just write: : POSLAM CO., Desk 2, 254 W. 54th St., New York, N.Y. As Vogue says, "What does it. matter if the snow flies and Spring seems a year away? Slip off your coat—your dress can hint of Spring right now*" That is what we have planned for you—smart, fresh new dresses that spell advance chic at this very moment— and priced very, very much lower in the / ’’ Frankly out to charm—and flatter their young wearers— these sheer, , flowering prints for MISSES *1355 Prints were never more charming—and they look particularly new and Springlike in these sheer frocks. Sleeves are perhaps the most interesting fashion news about them—full collars, big bows in contrasting "colors— fuller—necklines, high, young, with stitched pleated yokes, little buttons, ties providing contrast. Some of them are monotoned, some jnulti-colored—anyone of this collection would be charming for afternoon right now —and will see you smartly through the Summer. Sizes 14 to 20. >■ < Missis’ Dresses, Third Flood. ---- A bright flower-print frock with its own wool coat—— a particular favorite with WOMEN $| g.20 A woman feels well-dressed almost anywhere she goes in this new version of the redingote. The frock has a soft neckline tying with a young bow', and short sleeves—the little coat is wearable with other frocks, too. Black, navy or brown—all are smart. Typical of a collection of dresses—sizes 36 to 44. SHORTER WOMEN like this Young Bolero Jacket Frock Anniversary Priced *|8.2° Boleros have such a way of making on# look young knd gay—the bright print of the blouse will lift your spirits. And we give you a choice of brown, black or navy. In a collection of dresses—sizes 161/2 to 241/2* Women’s Dresses, Third Floor. >>i— For the young woman who likes simply tailored, classic SPORTS FROCKS $I355 The printed frock is a newer, rather more feminine version of the shirtwaist frock, using a very smart pleated frill and little pearl (simulated, of course) buttons in a row for further chic. The print is snfall, neat— the tailoring excellent as tailoring in classic clothes must be. The dark crepe, simply cut, wearable for an active day at the club—uses a little neckerchief and pocket-kerchief of a polka-dot print for contrast. But, two, from a delightful collection of sports frocks, shown above. Bfortswear, Third Floor. Here is the sheerest, most romantic dress a young person could wear on a Spring night— MARQUISETTE VIOLETS I Nothing is Aore alluring than sheer, sheer mar quisette, slightly .stiffened. The little bolero jacket i covers but not hides lovely shoulders and arms— the frock itself is as slim as a proverbial princess —and the huge bunch of violets are a lovely con trast to the blue-violet of the dress. One from a collection of charming evening things—sizes 14 to 20. No need to tell women of the eternal enchantment of CHIFFON Anniversary Priced *23-75 1 There is nothing quite so lovely, and when it uses lace it adds further laurels. The dress is very simply cut, very becoming—the cape of lace and chiffon swings from the shoulders with utter grace. • Black and gray. From a collection of women’s evening things, sizes 34 to 44. Formal Room, Third Floor. % m 1 i