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Show 270 Equally important were the veto messages. Almost a half century ago, in vetoing a bill granting consent for private con- struction of a power dam at Muscle Shoals, President Theodore Roosevelt took the position that power should be developed at, and should aid in financing federal navigation improvements, saying: " It does not seem right or just that this element of local value should be given away to private individuals of the vicinage, and at the same time the people of the whole community should be taxed for the local improvement. Concluding that the entire matter of granting privileges should be considered in a comprehensive way, he said they should be disposed of "after full competition in such a way as shall best conserve the public interests." President Roosevelt was even more explicit in stating his views in veto messages on the Rainy River and James River bills granting broad rights for nonfed- eral development.58 Among other things, he noted that nat- ural resources should not be granted and held in an undeveloped condition; that a definite time limit should be fixed in grants, permitting the public to retain control; that charges for the privilege should be imposed; and that in approving plans, maximum development of navigation and power should be assured. Later, President Taft voiced similar considerations when he vetoed bills to permit private construction of power dams on the White and Coosa Rivers.59 Not to be overlooked is the Waterways Commission, created by Congress in 1917.60 For the mere statement of its functions and duties signifies the broad importance of its assigned mis- sion to power and multiple-purpose projects, both federal and Fedebal Control op Water Power (Papers submitted to Senate Committee on Commerce), 62d Cong., 3d sess. (1913) ; Electric Power Development in the United States, Sen. Doc. No. 316, 64th Cong., 1st sess. (1916). 67 36 Cong. Rec. 3071 (1903). 68 Sen. Doc. No. 438, 60th Cong., 1st sess. (1908) ; 42 Cong. Rec. 4698, and H. Doc. No. 1350, 60th Cong., 2d sess. (1909) ; 43 Cong. Rec. 978-980. 69 H. Doc. No. 899, 62d Cong., 2d sess. (1912) ; 48 Cong. Rec 10318, and Sen. Doc. No. 949, 62d Cong., 2d sess. (1912) ; 48 Cong. Rec. 11796. 90 Act of August 8, 1917, § 18, 40 Stat. 250, 269. For a more detailed dis- cussion of this legislation, see infra, pp. 403-405. |