The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-02-14
FIGHT OVER MCROSSONS WAtilAWA
WATER BILL HAS ONLY COMMENCED
Secretary Of War Con.
sidsrs Leilehua Rights
Of Too Great Value
to Be Disposed Of
Lightly.
BY Ernsat q. walker.

y
WASHINGTON, January 2s.-Tho
McCrosson water bill, to which the
wahiawa Water Company has been EN-
phasizing objections here through its
attorneys, A. B. Brown, w. p Hep.
burn and w. A. Kinney, is dead for
this session of congress. 1t goes over
till the next session Of congress with.
ont prejudice, because of the decision
of Secretary Of War Dickinson, already
cabled to The Advertiser.
His report has been forwarded to
the house committee on military af-
fairs. 1t is very comprehensive, con.
tanning arguments and citations cover.
ing the various points at issue. One of
the important conclusions which the
secretary reaches is that there must
be an investigation in Hawaii of the
value of the government Is water rights,
as a preliminary to any legislation by
congress upon any such measure as
the McCrosson bill.
The secretary deals with the offer Of
Mr.. MeCrosson and his associates to
install new pipe line, reservoir and
complete water system for the reserva-
ton at Schofield Barracks and MeCros-
sons further offer to allow the govern
ment to tap his mains and canals and
use water for irrigation and agricul.
tural purposes on the military reserva.
tion, or for any military reservation on
the Island of Oahu. He alludes to the
offer of the Wahiawa Water Company
to deliver water for use at the post,
including reservoir and proper
system for distribution. The Wahiawa
company, however, does not offer to
furnish water for irrigation and agri-
cultural purposes on the army's res
ervation or reservations.
Exceedingly Valuable.
Therefore the secretary says he re-
CARDS the offer of McCrosson as more
advantageous to the government, but
adds that it is evident that the right
of the United States to this water is
" exceedingly valuable" and that there
fore he is not justified in taking any
action till the department ascertains
what that value is. Accordingly he ad-
vises that the McCrosson bill be not
passed but specifically recommends that
it shall not be rejected The war de-
partment, he says, is unwilling to pref
udice the measure.
No Grant or Contract.
He declines to sustain the claims of
the Wahiawa Water Company to per-
manent right in the surplus water un-
der the law of February, 1909. He
cites number of legal authorities and
decisions affecting the case and denies
totally either any grant OF contract in
favor of the Wahiawa company. He
says he shall ask that immediate steps
be taken to ascertain the value and
character of the government water
rights.
Secretary Mott-Smith, who is here
and starts away for good Thursday
morning, said today he had taken little
part in the controversy over the Wahi-
ava bill, beyond pointing out that the
proposed consideration might prove a
failure if at any time in the course of
years the government should abandon
the military reservation. In such an
event, remote as it might be, the lands
would revert to the Territory and the
water would not be available for the
irrigation of those lands, except on
toihs Vha1 tne company m1gnI uIclaJe'
Again the secretary pointed out that
it might be desirable to make more
careful provision for water for the
town of Waialua
He took up with Solicitor Smith, at
the department of the interior, the pro-
visions Of the Kau bill, but as Mr.. Nc.
Crosson had given notice of his wish
that that bill be withdrawn, their con
sideration of proposed amendments was
only of a perfunctory character.