The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-25
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IHt WRIGHI Hi It0I JH0E
Yesterdays Meeting in Chamber
of Commerce
THEY WILL FIGHT FOR WRIGHT
Senator White and Hon. Jeff Chandler
Their Washington Representatives
A Committee Of Five VIII Attend TO All the
Details snd Report Mt the Next
Meeting

Yesterday afternoon very important
meeting was held in the assembly room at
The chamber of commerce with the pur-
pose of discussing ways and means Tor
meeting the question OF re-argument be-
fore the United States supreme court re-
sardng the constitutionality of tho law
known as the Wright irrigation law.
AS was published in yesterday morn
inc's Herald. the above law has been up
held in five OF the leading ca SEES that have
been passed upon by the supreme court of
the, state OF California. but the fact that
the supreme court of the country has de-
cded to reopen and reargue single
minor case which involves the constitu-
tiondlity of that law, seemed to demand
| immediate action in the matter by par
ties interested in main tanning its consti-
tutionaity. Hence the meeting. Shortly
after = O'Clock Judge Anderson arose.
called the meeting to order and nomi-
mated Major George II. Bonebrake to the
presiding chair. The motion was prompt
" seconded and carried. The major
mounted the platform and assumed con-
troll with few graceful words of appreci..
alton for the honor conferred AMI brief
statement of his belief that some immedi-
ate action should be taken to make the If
rigation bonds more valuable to holders
and to districts at present partly lrrlgaten,
as well as districts hereafter to be made
productive by irrigation. The major also
said that the marriage of land and water
was most important in this country.
4 motion was then made and carried
that H. NJ. Holt act as secretary fer the
meeting, and Mr.. H olt joined Major Bone
brake with pencil and paper in hand.
hr1nx No rI thpn stated
the object of the meeting. lie said that
the irrigation Vases had been on appeal
for threa wears, that two weeks ago the
case was ordered reopened in the supreme
court at Washington or briefs that have
been filed since the case was submitted.
Mr.. Ward also stated that the bon6hold
ers and others vita!ly interested had felt
the necessity OF comforting on the subject
in order TO sec what steps could be taken
TO hasten the rc-argument and stop the
existing sutpen sion of affairs, rs soon as
possible.
The case has been set for the October
term but should be acted upon before
then, and the business of the afternoon
would be to decide upon what course to
employ and in what manner procedure
should be made.
In response to question from the
chair as to whether there were any
further remarks on the subject, Judge
Anderson said he would like to impress
on those present the incalculable mlsfor-
tune to the country as we'll as the bond
holders if the Wright act were held to be
unconstitutional. He said that while
Mr.. Wright was an able man, he was not
gifted with the capacity TO present his
case with the necessary force, vim and in
tiuence, and he would like to see Mr..
Wright assisted by those who can exercise
such faculties and add dignity and force
to the cause. Mr.. Ward then read letter
WaVpl of San Francisco
in which it was stated that the bondhold
ers in that locality have held several
meetings for the same purpose. and pro-
pose having Judge Dillon of New York
and Judge Rhodes OF San Francisco to
represent their side.
Judge Hays here rose and suggested
that the holders here cooperate with
those in San Francisco.
Judge Anderson, in answer to ques
ton as to who Judges Dillon and Rhodes
we're, stated that Judge Dillon is cele-
brated authority on constitutional law in
the United States, and that Judge Rhodes
carried the Modesto case through the as.
sembly with Mr.. Wright. Judge Ander-
son, although he favored cooperation
with the north, suggested that Senator
Stephen NJ. White be retained as counsel
for the bondholders OF Southern Califor-
MIA.
John Shirley Ward then rose and asked
permission to read the following resolu-
ton:
Whereas, The recent action of the
United States supreme court in reopenlng
the case of Tregea VS.. The Modesto 1rri-
CATION district and ordering it to be rear
gued, is viewed with grave alarm by all
irrigation district bond holders and by all
parties own ng and improving property
within irrigation districts as a step
threatening the very validity OF the IT.
rigation district law of the state; and
Whereas. 1t is of the utmost import
ance to such bond holders and property
owners that the earliest possible decision
of such case be had, to the end that the
existing suspension of all material devel-
opment in irrigation districts occasioned
by the courts delay in such cases may be
al once terminated, and to the end that
the legality and value OF such bonds be
Immediately determined; and
Whereas. The magnitude of the inter-
ests at stake upon the question involved
in such suit. and the far-reachine results
OF decision thercin-going 10 the very
validity of the millions of dollars Of out
standing irrigation district bonds, and
determining the future development and
improvement and even the existence OF
thousands of homes within irrigation
districts make it of vital importance to
all such bond holders ana land owners
though not parties to such suit-that ev-
cry possible effort be pat forth upon the
rc-argument OF such cause to maintain
the validity OF such irrigation law, and
that the services OF the ablest. most for
chile and persuasive counsel and advocates
be secured to that end therefore be it
Resolved. That iG is the sense of this
meeting that committee OF three eb APP
pointed by the chairman to use every
effort 10 provide ways and means by
which an early re-argument of said cause
oi rrcgca We. The Modesto Irrigation Dis
tr:ct may be had and to employ the
ablcst obtainabc legal counsel and advo-
cate to procure such early argument, who
shall present to such court upon such re-
argument as amiclls cuciae the cause OF
all irrigation districts and irrigation dis
trict bond holders, and that to provide
funds Tor such purpose such committee
be authorized and instructed to solicit
aril receive contributions from holders
OF irrigation district bonds; that such
committee have full power to act i'll pro-
curing such re- Argument and in the en-
ploy ment of counsel as soon as it is in
receipt OF sufficient funds to justify it in
so doine that we earnestly recommend
that all irrigation districts and holders of
irrigation district bonds respond at once
to such committees call for funds, in
order that no time be lost in taking ac-
tive steps to procure the re-argumeht of
such cause. p"
Informal argument followed before TAX
ing any definite action on the above reso-
luton. Major Bonebrake announced that
aS thorn aro orr 0O0 non