The record-union., 1896-12-18

water required for its irrigation, so that
the land water should go inseparably
together forever; and
Whereas, When the provisions of
the Wright Act have been followed and
eQuitably and honestly administered il
has accomplished the results hoped for
it, and the districts so organized and
operated have given to the land owner
benefits commensurate to the burdens
imposed and to investors an assured
security: but
Whereas, In the practical operation
Of the law its irregularities, entailing
complications and hardships, have
arisen which have impaired the benef-
cial results which the law proposed to
accomplish: and
Whereas, We believe that these irreg-
ularities, complications and the hard
ships which have arisen under them may
be avoided in the future by the action of
the State Board of Control to supervise
the organization and operation of the
irrigation district, and by conservative
policy in amending the statute by en-
bodying in its provisions checks and
safeguards which will give the fullest
the bondholder; and
Whereas, 1t is impossible that the
benefits which may be obtained under
the law should be fully revised until
experiences would have come from its
practical operations in California shall
have been thoroughly investigated and
understood, and the defects that have
developed shall have been remedied by
careful and thorough legislation: and
Whereas, We believe that it is impos-
sible for the members of the Legisla-
ture, in the brief time allotted to them
for the discharge of their duties, and
the haste and pressure under which
they must labor to acquire the neces-
sary familiarity with the many intri-
cate and difficult legal. financial and en-
gineering problems to be overcome; now,
therefore, be it,
Resolved, That all the obstacles which
now stand in the way of the successful
operation of the irrigation district sys-
tenn can be best removed in those States
where it is desired to operate under the
law, and in California especially, by
delegating the whole subject to a State
commission for a sufficient length of
time to enable them to give to the mat
ter most thorough investigation of ex-
listing conditions, and afford the fullest
opportunity for suggestions and objec-
tions, so that the statute may be so
amended that we may get the full bene-
fit of the light of the experiences of ten
years of practical operation; a light
which was not before the original fra
mers of the law who were pioneering in
the field, and that the law may be so
modified that it will unite as far as pos
sible all the people of the State in an
earnest and uniform organization to en-
joy it's fruits and give the fullest pro-
lection to individual property rights and
the most absolute security to investors:
and we would further recommend that
in California, and in any other State
where it may be necessary there should
be constitutional amendment under
which all voting in irrigation districts
may be limited to actual landowners,
and an assessment be made and col
leoted by the County Assessor and Tax
Collectors and proceeds of bond sales
be deposited in the State Treasury un-
disturbed by the district.
After some discussion the congress
adopted the resolutions and adjourned
sine die