The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1908-06-27
GRANGE DECLARES ITSELF.
Outlines Plan of Action on irrigation
Question.

Question.
RESOLUTIONS unanimously adopted by
me oregon State Grange at Eugene.
ticn: 'O"'ns "'o'
moved that the resolutions be adopted
as read and referred to the committee
On, legislation, with power to prepare a
pil as outlined therein, submitting the
same 70 the next session of the leoisla.
lure Tor adoption, and further. that the
chairman Of the legislative COMMITTEES
be authorized to invite such state. or
national experts on water legisIat;on
VINO can be secured to assist the com
nl'tee IN preparing such bill, also one
representative from any state organiza.
llon which may hereafter adopt sub.
stantially similar resolutions.
Resolutions
Whereas, Titles to water are Of eoual
Importance with titles to land. and IL
appears that water right should be
as easily aseertained, as clearly defined,
as secure and in all respects as definite
as perfect title to land; and,
whereas, 1t is apparent that without
dehnlte system of water right titles
ana adequate protection by the state.
our water users are burdened with cost
~, and apparently unending litigation.
our present constructed works are de.
preclated in value; the United States
hesitates to construct irrigation svs.
TENS; private capital declines to invest .
home-seekers 90 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 a long
series of decisions by our supreme
court, and apparently are so conflietino
that our ablest lawyers differ in opin,
ION on the most fundamental pointS
rms 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 i,
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 dut,
Of the state of Oregon. at the earlies,
possible time, to codify and enact 3
complete. concise. and definite water
law, leaving to the courts only the mer,
Interpretation of this law on such oc
casion as it might be brought into dis
pute; and he it further
Resolved, That such water law shouli
be based upon the best experience o.
other states and countries, such a.
Wyoming, Idaho and Canada. ant
should include the following funda
mental principles:
!. That no water right should becom,
vested except by direct grant from tn,
state.
2. To provide a system whereby tn,
priority and limitations of every exist
ing right to the use of water cal
eventually be ascertained
B. To provide a reliable record il
some central office of all water right
as determined, and of new rights a
initiated
4. That actual measurements o
bitches and streams be made as a basi
for the adjudication of existing right
and the initiation of new rights to tn
: surplus water, if any.
p 8. To provide a definite procedur
= whereby rights to such surplus waite
, may be acquired.
6. That beneficial use should be tn
3 basis of all rights to the use of watel
2 and that water for irrigation purpose
should be made appurtenant to the Ian
e irrigated.
e 7. All rights to the use of water fc
e power development should be limited t
a period of twenty five vears suhiac
I to renewal under certain restrictions.
] s. To provide an efficient administr;
n tive system, with proper officers, fC
T the distribution of the water suppl
c among those entitled to its use.