The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-09-29
WATER USERS GROW ANGRY
Chairman Larson Declares Adjourn
mcnt Carried and Prevents any
Action Being Taken.


Just as point was reached q fter
an hours lively discussion where def
mite action might be taken by the
Teton Water Users association to
hasten the completion of the Tieton
project the meeting att the court
house Saturday suddenly adjourned
without doing anything.
THE meeting had reached a high
pitch of enthusiasm following a
speech by Jack Splawn and a reply to
it by DR.. A. II. Henry. DR.. Henry
had previously submitted a plan to
the meeting whereby he argued that
the Tieton project might be compile
ted in 1911 without either a bond is
sue or a assessment Following the
speech of Mr.. Splawn, the land own
ers were not in a temper to consider
any proposition, and the motion to
adjourn was carried with a shout. and
the room was emptied in a few min
utes.
Henry and Larson Clash.
DR.. Henry objected to the hasty ad-
journment as being out of order, but
was unable to attract the attention of
Vice-President Larson who was presi-
ding. He walked over to the chair
mans desk and repeated his objec-
tiC1s to Mr.. Larson who became an
gered and a clash was threatened.
SO excited were many of the land
owners who attended the meeting.
that the discussion was carried to the
streets, where groups of men thresh-
ed out the points brought out in the
meeting at the court house.
The purpose of the meeting yester-
day was to unite if possible the land
owners under the Teton on some
proposition whereby the completion
of the canal could be hurried. 1t was
evident before the meeting was call
led to order that a strong fight would
be made by one faction of the land
owners which preferred to let the
government complete its work as best
it can without cooperation on the part
of the landowners under the project.
Decide Who Has Vote.
In the absence Of President Splawn,
at the opening Of the meeting, Vice
President Larson presided. There
was lengthy discussion as to who
was entitled to vote. 1t was finally
decided that those people who owned
land under the project or who had
contracts for land were entitled to q
vote providing they had an assignment
Of the original owner of the land
whose name appeared on the records
of the association.
Attorney Fred Parker addressed
the meeting, explaining the situation
that confronts the Tieton land own
ers. He said that the land owners
must either wait for the government
to complete the work when funds be-
came available or that they must pro-
vide funds to hasten the work. He
suggested this might be done by pay
ing up for water rights in advance.
Alex Miller quoted Secretary Bal
linger to the effect that assessments
by the association were illegal.
DR.. Henry Makes Proposition.
DR.. Henry explained that he had
been advised that the first payment
on water rights might be made in
March 1910 and he said if this were
done enough money would be raised
to complete the work by 1911. He
said that 100000 would be needed
to do this. and that the first payment
for water rights on 10000 acres would
make this amount.
DR.. Henry moved that the Teton
Water Users association request the
secretary of the interior to announce
the amount of the first payment I'M
der the Tieton and that he decide
no Inc il,
1911, although payable in March 1910,
and further that every land owner be
permitted to make one, two or more
payments on his water right at the
latter date. with the understanding
that if 100000 is so pledged for the
payment in March 1910 that the gov
eminent is to complete the project by
1911.
Splawn Advises Against Action.
At this point Mr.. Splawn took the
floor and advised against doing any
thing which would work a hardship
upon the poor man, and expressing
the belief that congress would find a
way to raise the money necessary to
complete the work instead of the
landowners doing it,
IL merry quoted senator carter,
of Montana, to the effect that it was
not likely that congress would be able
to pass a bill which would give the
relief needed owing to the opposition
of the eastern congressman.
Preferring not to risk vote on the
Henry proposition, the opposing fac
ton moved for adjournment and it
was carried.