The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-29

opposition is likely to be encountered
from individuals communities or states:
and the earlier action is taken the less the
(. friction will be from the ensuing changes.
Rights OF Citizens.
It IS clear that reform cannot be
effected unless the several states III.
forming new legislation or correcting
that which ALREADY exists. take into con-
ssideration the rights of thefcitizenS or
neighboringi states as we'll as the rights
81 their own people. No uniformity cam
be secured III legislation continues I'll tle
future as I'M the past To BE- enacted Tor
the benefit of individuals OH l0call COM
munities. and not of such general nature
as to make il applicable To. the great
body Of irrigators OF the entire area OF
irrigated lands. Reform in THIS matter
cannot well be accomplished BY arbitrary
action upon the part OF state govern
educational movement which viii con-
vince irrig'atofS that proposed legislative
changes are practical and desirable.
As reform must in the main come from
the voluntary action of the states and
as IL is without much question, the gen
eral desire of the residents of the irti-
gated regions of the west that some sucA
plan of voluntary legislative procedure
be tried. hi order that this important
matter may he secured. "a plan Isl SUgs-
geSted which, il adopted. may be- tnS
means OF couSumuatfug uniformity OF
legislation upon water right questions In
the west. It is that the governor Oft EACH
state and territory in the irrigated region
appoint two commissioners. one to be
the state or territorial engineer, or the
officer whose position most closely con-
forms to that of state engineer and one
practical irrigat0E. engaged in irrigation
Inc commissioners TO meet at some con-
venieut place within six months from
the time of their appointment and formu-
late a system of irrigation laws, TOR each
state and territory so represented con-
forming as closely as may be possible 10
a general code, varying from this TO meet
local conditions where necessary; the
system adopted for each state to en-
body general and uniform methods OF
recording, general standard Of measure
ment of water rights. and general pro-
visions providing tor adjudication of the
waters of interstate streams: and tine
legislatures OF the various states and
territories at their next succeeding seS-
sion. and recommended for adoption.
Stepping Stone to eform.
while the adoption of this plan might
not be followed by Immediate and COM
plete reform 1T the matter of water
rights legislation, it might possibly be
the stepping stone TO such reform. An
nual congresses. such as the transmits
SiSSippi, the irrigation, the similar meet
ings. are held for the purpose of fnfiti-
encimg national legislation upon matters
of general Interest to the west II seems
to suppose that the recon-
mendations of a convention composed Of
practical 1rrfgators and irrigation experts.
upon a question of immediate and vital
Importance to every state and territory
Within the irrigation district, would carry
great weight with the lawmaking bodies
of these states and territories. 1t is pos
sible that but few of the states would
adopt the Recommendations OF such a
but a great advance wild
have been made in the direction of uni
formity when any two contiguous states
work upon similar lines. employ uniform
and provide for joint adjudica-
ton and apportionnsent of the waters of
a stream common to both states.