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000408 -8- sense of Congress that flood control on navigable waters or their tributaries is a proper activity of the Federal Government in cooperation vdth States, their political subdivisions, and localities thereof; that investigations and improvements of rivers and other waterways, including watersheds thereof, for flood- control purposes are in the interest of the general welfare; that the Federal Government should improve or participate in the i'llprovement of navigable waters or their tributaries, including watersheds thereof,. for flood-co:1trol purposes if the benefits to whomsoever they may accrue are in excess of the estimated costs, and if the lives and social security of people are other,Iise adversely affected." 3. The interest of the Government in the development of hydroelectric to energy in connection with river improvement goes bac~as early as 1879. In that year the Secretary of War was authorized to lease the water power at Moline. There are many Acts of Congress and decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States shmving the gradual formulation ot the Federal interest in power development over the years. May we note only a few. In 1898 the United Jtates Supreme Court in Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company vs. Patten Paper Company, (172 U.S. 58) upheld the right of the Federal Government to dispose of water power at a navigation dam, pointing out that the (,overnment could thus reimburse itself for the expense of the improvement. In 191~ the Congress (Act of July 25, 1912, 37 Stat. 201) provided that the Secretary of ~ar is authorized to install in the permanent part of a dam for the improvement of navigation such founda- tions, sluices and other vlOrks as may be considered desirable for the future development of water power. Also in 1912 a subcom~ittee on the Judiciary