East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-12-06
UmatiIIa Extension Proves
Bone Of Spirited Contro-
yersy in Club.
SPECIAL MEETING SOON
Members Defer Action to Await Her
mission Side But Notify President Of
status of Affair-Lively Tilt En-
sued.

sued.
On next Tuesday evening, Deem
ber 12, there will be a special meet
ing of the Pendleton Commercial
club for the purpose of listening to
both sides of the controversy that has
arisen over the subject of the Una
tilla extension 1t is expected
speakers will be present from Hermis-
ton Umatil'a. Stanfield Echo and Pi-
lot Rock to set forth their respective
views.
Birch Creek Rights.
Last nights meeting of the club
developed the Stanfield side of the
affair and the claims of the Birch
creek people were likewise made
known. As an attorney for the water
users on Birch creek Frederick Stei-
wer set forth their views. He assert
ed that the state engineers figures
show the minimum flow of the UNA
tilla river to be 219,0 acre feet, the
figures being for 1904-5. He declar-
ed that in adjudicating the rights
along the river and tributary creeks
the minimum flow should be taken as
a basis of calculation. Should this be
done he held there would not be suf-
ficient water to meet the needs of
the present settlers and to carry out
the extension.
In his discussion Steiwer also
touched upon the reservation rights
and criticised the reclamation depart
ment for seeking to use water upon
the project extension when the first
~ 20 ia
the Indians in the event the reserva-
ton rights are established
Must BE Adjudicated.
While Steiwer was speaking the
first spark in a lively debate that fol-
lowed was struck when Will Moore
interprosed to ask IL the adjudication
of the water rights by the govern
ment would not in some cases save
waterusers down the stream from
bringing suits to establish their
rights
After this point had been disposed
of, Mr. Moore moved that a special
meeting of the club be held one week
hence to again consider the subject
and to listen to parties from Hermis-
ton and Umat'lla in relation to the
u
ed to amend the motion to defer the
meeting for two weeks. 1t was here
suggested by Steiwer that such an ar
rangement would be very satisfactory
provided word be wired at once to the
president to the effect the club would
take action at that time.
Smith Opposed Change.
Before a vote was taken upon the
amendment several lively tits ensued
between those present. DIR. c. j.
smith. who was chairman of the COM
mittee that worked for the extension,
warmly defended the extension and
decried the efforts to place the club
on record against it at this late hour.
He declared that when the extension
was fhst proposed people from prac-
tically al sections of the county were
favorable to it and so expressed
themselves through resolutions pass
ed by commercial clubs. He declared
himself vigorously opposed to any ac-
tion by the club that would appear as
wavering or indicating a possible
change of sentiment
To Notify President.
Howe err when the question was fl
nally gwen tC lne cluD lot ueClslol
those present voted as favorng a spe-
cial meeting one week hence and the
amendment which called for instruct
ing the secretary to wire the presi-
dent to the effect such meeting
would be held at that time to con-
slider the matter. When the vote up
on the amendment was first taken
President Smythe declared the chair
in doubt as to the result and called
for n standing vote. Ten of those
present voted as favoring the notifi-
cation of the president, while but
five voted against It,
Stanficld Was There.
The feature of the meeting last eve
ming was the presence of the delega-
tion from Stanfield Echo and vicin-
ity. Among those in attendance
were Frank Sloan James Kyle, e. N.
Wheeler. Cashier Holt of the Stanfeld
bank. G.. L. Hurd. o. d. Teel, the
Ward broth RS and others.
Among those speaking against the
extension were Messrs. Sloan. Kyle
and Hurd. Both Kyle and Sloan de-
clared Stanf'eld people anxious for an
investigation of the merits OF their
claims and thev asserted the carrying
out of the extension would be ruin
Gus to settlers on the Meadows and
unjust. They hotly refuted statements
made by reclamation men regarding