Weekly journal-miner., 1911-02-22
CONGRESS MAY PASS
 COUNTY SEAT FIGHT
Special Correspondenee.) )

WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. H. A county seat fight of large propor- tions is trying to make its way in- to the affairs of Congress, but with the cOngested condition of Iegisla- tiOn there is no probability that the citizens of Douglas and Bisbee, who are ambitious to remove the seat of Cochise county from Tombstone to one of the former cities will receive consideration at the present session. It has been pointed out by the peo- pie from Arizona that the romantic old town of Tombstone, which be- came the county seat in 1882, has suffered greatly from the shutting down of its mines, and it is no longer in the front rank regarding population, as compared with the rivals for county seat honors. To those who understand the Congress sional situation, the futility of at
 tempting to secure action by Con gress. on purely local matter, so late in the session, is obvious. There have been many visitors here from Arizona, of late, and some of these gentlemen. who are not directly in terested in the controversy, have pointed out to your correspondent the fact that the Territorial stat utes provide a method by which a question of this kind may be sub mitted to the electorate. The atti- tude of the Committee on Territor- ies in reference to legislation re- garding matters that can be handled by the people or local authorities of the Territory, was distinctly shown in the report of the tax levy bill, in which all matters that could be left to the discretion of the Board of Control was eliminated from the bill. the committee going on record at the time in expressing an opin- ion that they did not wish to legis- late in matters which they could avoid.
 Delegate Cameron has introduced a bill authorizing the Greeley Ari- zona Irrigation company to construct, maintain and operate a dam in and across the Colorado river at Head Gate Rock, near Parker. It is thought that this measure will set tie the controversy and remedy the diffieultie. that have attracted sol much attention with the projects un- der way at Parker. It is provided in the bill that the appropriation here tofore made of $5O,OOO for the con struction of a pumping plant to bel used for irrigation purposes on the Colorado River reservation, shall be- come ehargeable to the Greeley com pany in the large undertaking, for the construction of a dam and water works, and shall eostitute a lien on the dam and ditches until the com pany shall have fully reimbursed the government. Proper safeguards are provided for furnishing the water for irrigation purposes for both the al- loted and unalloted irrigable lands and for other lands proposed to be irrigated. The Interior Department is authorized and directed to survey and subdivide the Colorado River In- dian reservation, allowing ten acres of land to each Indian, opening the remainder of the irrigable lands to entry and settlement The company is compelled to begin actual eOnstrue- tion within two years and to com plete their work within five years.
 Delegate Cameron secured the pas sage of the tax levy bill for Arizona, through the House, by having it placed on the calendar through ob- taining unanimous consent. The amendments made by the committee on Territories nave been indicated in this Washington correspondence.