The San Francisco call., 1899-10-26
WATER STORAGE.

HE Escondido Times, organ OF Federal irriga-
ton, has discovered "a literary bureau" in San
Francisco which Eliminates in opposition to its
views on water storage 1t has also nominated and
elected Mr.. John P Irish the leader of that oppos-
ton and proceeds to souse him in flood waters and
other in a baptism that ought to drown him or make
him stay good 1t may be necessary to say that the
men who know that our flood waters belong to the
State OF California, its property and asset, are
not particularly in need OF the leadership OF Mr.
Irish or anybody else. They have called convention
for November IA to consult upon the best way to
cure the use of this State property which is
ming to waste In spite OF any aqueous argument made
By Mr. Irish they are entirely willing that any COM
monwealth in possession of a similar property and
asset shall give it to the United States throw it
birds. Indeed the convention may conclude that
California should do the other with it. But
is existing property; it belongs to the State,
and only the State dispose OF it 1t is assumed
at the outset that the Irrigation Congress at Mis-
soula has the right to dispose of this property and
that its conclusions of policy proper and ndis-
putable Still as a matter OF law the United States
cannot enter the State OF California take possession
OF its property control and distribute it. without the
consent OF the State. The Irrigation Congress is
admitted to be very able body and very representa-
tive but it is voluntary organization, has no statu-
tory existence, is not legal entity 1t can consult
and advise and its American right pass reso-
utions, but it cannot pass laws nor ALLEVIATE the
property OF State without the States consent.
Perhaps the Times will agree that the convention
of November IA State affair, may be usefully in
formed of the Federal irrigation, and perhaps may be
successfully importuned to adopt it, and induced to
advise the next Legislature to its asset in the
flood water TO the United States.
1t is to be regretted that Mr.. Irshs tendency to
epigram has caused excitement by being taken the
statement OF an n1exble policy.
The Times mistakenly says that "the promoters of
the State scheme to start with the idea that
the first thing necessary to be done is to kill off the
national movement This is msapprehension en-
tirey. The promoters of this convention don't wish
to kill anything, but to make all alive The killing
it leaves to the drought to the forest fires to the
Fabian policy of waiting for the distant gods to hear
means to make it to waste down our mountain
sides II the national rrigationsts would cease their
Uneasy and tormenting suspicious which npeach the
motives of people who are hand in hand with them
in pursuit of the object, and dsmounting from
their national high horse would sit down and talk
it like reasonable men, the situation would lose
the friction for which they alone are responsible.
belonging to the State running to waste every
year. We all want to know how best and quickest "a
save it. By getting together in the coming conven-
tion way may be found to that end.
| There is no OF using Mr.. Irish as scarecrow.