Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-02
THE IRRIGATION PROB. M.
Charge of Misrepresentation by One of
the Fresno Convention Committee.

Charge of Misrepresentation by One oi
the Fresno Convention Committee.
EDS RECORD UNION: As a member oil
the Executive Committee of the Committee
on Legislation appointed by the Fresno
Convention, l desire to enter protest
against the attempt now being made in
Sacramento to amend Article XIV. of the
Constitution by representing that The
Fresno Convention of irrigatorS asked for
such an amendment.
When the Convention met at Fresno, the
Legislative Committee of six, appointed at
the Riverside Convention, was increased TO
| eighteen. The committee was in session
every day for three days, discussing the
propositions brought before it. Every
proposition adopted by the committee was
passed by unanimous vote
During the forenoon session of the third
day, if | remember rightly, Mr.. Evans, OF
Riverside, introduced a resolution 10 the eff
feet that Article NV. of the Constitution
should be amended so that Boards of Su-
perviSors and governing bodies of incorpo-
rated cities ana towns, in liking water rates,
should fix them so they would cover run
ming expenses and 4 reasonable interest on
the investment.
This resolution was discussed at length
by the full committee Of eighteen, and was
opposed by John q. North, of Riverside.
Some thought that the principle was right,
but that it was ineXpedient to attempt so
much legislation ut once. Mr.. Zumwalt,
of Visalia thought the section ought to be
amended as suggested, but deprecated a
move of this kind at the present time.
when more important matters demand at
tention. At length it was almost unani-
tl,,+ cI,a
dropped for the present and not presented
to the Legislature at all. Mr.. Evans, act
ing upon the expressed wish of the COM
mittee, withdrew the resolution.
The report Of the committee was pre-
scented TO the Convention, discussed at
length and finally adopted unanimously
In that report there was not a single word
about amending Article XIV. of the Con-
stitution; neither was there Il single Sen-
tence of that report that looked to any
principle that would call for amending
the Constitution.
Why is it that the members Of the Com
mittce on Legislation of the Fresno Con-
vcntion, who have been doing such good
work on other matters at Sacramento the
past few weeks, have undertaken to amend
Article %IN.-dOing work that was never
Endorsed by the Fresno Convention-work
last December virtually said should not be
attempted this winter, if ever?
The impression has gone out all over the
State that the Fresno Convention asked for
the amendment Of Article NV. The
papers all state that the bill for amending
Article NV. is one of the bills drawn by
the Irrigation Committee of the Fresno
Convention. The papers also state that
members of that committee have appeared
before the legislative committees and urged
the adoption of that bill with the other
irrigation bills. 1t appears to be fact,
also, that members Of the Legislature are
supporting that bill to amend Article XIV.
because it was the wish of the Fresno Con
yention.
The facts of the case are that the irrigat-
ors of the State do not want that article
amended as suggested. The attempt to
amend has been made in the interest Of
water companies. who have water to sell.
do not care ut the present time to dis
cuSS the merits of the bill. but simply to
call attention to the fact that this proposed
amendment 10 the Constitution is not the
child of the Irrigation Convention, either
of riverside or Fresno, and that the mem
berS of the legislative committee at Sacra-
ueuto are miSrepresenting the Convention
that appointed them. The principles in
this am -ndment We're r0fcd torn, at River
side, and most efiectually Squclched in COM
mittee at Fresno.
As / am the only member of the Execu-
tive Committee Of nine from this county, |
regret my inability to meet with the COM
mitGee at Sacramento, and assist in the
work IN hand, but business engagements
forbid. ! therefore ask this space in your
columns to present these facts to the mem
bers of the Legislature and the public gem
orally. l.. NJ. Holt,
Member Of Executive Committee Of Irriga-
ton Convention from san Bernadino
county
Riverside, Cal, February q, 1SS5.