The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-07-31
GRANGE DECLARES ITSELF.
Outlines Plan of Action on Irrigation
Question.

Question.
Resolutions unanimously adopted by
the Oregon State Grange at Eugene,
Hay IA, 1908, upon the following mo-
tiCn:
Moved that the resolutions be adopted
as read and referred to the committee
on legislation, with power to prepare a
bill as outlined therein, submitting the
same to the next session of the legisla-
ture for adoption, and further, that the
chairman of the legislative committee
be authorized to invite such state or
national experts on water legislation
VINO can be secured to assist the com.
mittee in preparing such bill, also one
representative from any state organiza-
tion which may hereafter adopt sub.
stantially similar resolutions.
Resolutions
Whereas, Titles to water are of equal
importance with titles to land, and it
appears that water right should be
as easily ascertained, as clearly defined,
as secure and in all respects as definite
as perfect title to land; and,
Whereas, 1t is apparent that without
definite system of water right titles
and adequate protection by the state,
our water users are burdened with cost
ly, and apparently unending litigation;
our present constructed works are de-
preciated in value; the United States
hesitates to construct irrigation sys-
tens; private capital declines to invest !:
home-seekers go to other states and
countries, where the purchase of an irri-
gated farm does not mean the purchase
of lawsuit, and thus our development
| is seriously retarded; and,
Whereas, Our present water laws can
not be found by study of the statutes
! alone, but must be sought for in long
series of decisions by our supreme
court, and apparently are so conflicting
that our ablest lawyers differ in opin-
ion on the most fundamental points.
This law is incomplete and inadequate,
and has been, and is, in a state of flux.
Disputes are decided by the logic of
| judges, rather than by statutes of the
! legislature. Few know what the law is
today, none know what it may be to.
morrow; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
Oregon State Grange that it is the duty
of the state of Oregon, at the earliest
possible time, to codify and enact a
complete, concise, and definite water
law, leaving to the courts only the mere
Interpretation of this law on such oc.
casion as it might be brought into dis.
pute; and be it further
Resolved, That such water law should
be based upon the best experience or
other states and countries, such as
! Wyoming, Idaho and Canada, and
should include the following funda.
mental principles:
/. That no water right should become
vested except by direct grant from the
state.
2. To provide system whereby the
priority and limitations of every exist
ing right to the use of water can
eventually be ascertained.
8. To provide a reliable record in
some central Office of all water rights
as determined, and of new rights as
initiated
4. That actual measurements of
bitches and streams be made as a basis
for the adjudication of existing rights
and the initiation of new rights to the
surplus water, if any.
s. To provide definite procedure
whereby rights to such surplus water
may be acquired.
6. That beneficial use should be the
basis of all rights to the use of water,
and that water for irrigation purposes
should be made appurtenant to the land
irrigated.
z. All rights to the use of water for
power development should be limited to
a period Of twenty-five years, subject
to renewal under certain restrictions
! 8. To provide an efficient administra
tive system, with proper officers, for
the distribution of the water supply
among those entitled to its use