The Glenwood post., 1911-03-18
Mann TO FIGHT
M0FFAT TUNNEL
After Failing in Efforts to Pro-
tect Western Slope Water,
Mann Loses Patience
WILL COME UP MONDAY

Inc Denver newspapers gave a wrong
impression at first about the reporting
out of the bill relating to the Moffat
| Tunnel project. Whether they We're
misinformed or not | cannot say. The
Allen H. B. No 4O2 was in the hands
of the Judiciary committee Among
others on this committee are the an
thor of the bill and myself Had it
not been for my vote the bill would
have been reported out without favor
able recommendation. In the Judiciary
committee Mr.. Allen presented the fav-
orable- points of the bill. At the close
| of his remarks ! asked him to explain
the water clause. He did so. | said
to the committee that under the cir
cumstances l should oppose the bill on
! the floor OF the house because of the
| proposition to start the opening wedge
toward diverting the waters from the
western slope to the eastern slope, al
so that l represented a large part at
least of the western slope, especially
of the Grand valley. In a few words
| he informed the committee that ~
didn't represent but very small por
| tion of that section, that he understood
that | was opposed to the bill and that
| ne had seen Senaor Cary; that he was
in hearty favor of the bill and that
he represented the western slope much
more than Mann did. - | hinted thai
we should see when the bill came up
in the house for consideration and that
l was opposed to sending the bill ou5
| of committee with favorable recommen-
dation. Lieutenant Governor Smith,
who is associated with Mr.. Moffat, was
present and said: ''Mr. Mann if you
will vote this ont favorably you may
make amendments from the floor and
l believe that we can come to an unde"-
standing" every well, then VIII
vote favorably, and take the matter
up on the floor
The next morning the papers had
writeup that everybody on the commit,
tee was highly in favor of the bill
and that it would be rushed through
the house. After disposing of the jour
nal in session the next day. two of the
| judiciary committee Informed the
house that the newspapers had stretch
| ed the facts to quite an extent.
stated that l was very sure the papers
| would want to correct the false impress
sion and gave the facts relative to the
discussion in the committee. The news
papers failed to come through with the
correction. While I was giving the in
formation on the matter Mr.. Allen,
the author of the bill, tried to call NE
down as being out of order, but the
| Speaker sustained me.
1 Immediately got busy on the water
clause of the bill, fixed up some amend
ments, got four days speech ready,
ascertained that four members from
the western slope were against the bill.
water or no water, and Informed those
asking me that I considered the bill AS
good as dead UNLESS THE WATER
PROPOSITION WAS PROPERLY
FIXED. Later on the News got busy
on the bill as drawn up by the author,
tie Pueblo Chieftain being the first
paper to consider my opposition and to-
day Lieutenant Governor Smith asked
me if it would be satisfactory if the
entire water clause was stricken from
the bill.
| / replied that something stronger
than striking ont that clause would be
necessary. and l have been assured that
there will be no reference to water
other than a clause against using the
tunnel for the purpose of diverting
water from the western slope to eastern
slope. l hope to get hold of that part.
of the new bill today and see just
what it will mean. 1t is NOT the MAJ
ter of diverting the water from the
Fraser stream as intended, but later
other propositions of a like nature may
tunnel lower down and strike the water
where the western slope would feel it.
Mr.. Allen is n Denver member. law
yer Other members inform me that
if the tunnel is put through they will
do their best to get the water by legis-
lative enactment at some future time,
These members are opposed to the tun-
mel anyway. With that proposition [
have little to do JUST NOW. for the
people of my section WANT THE TUNr
MEL IF WESTERN SLOPE WATERS
| CONTINUED on last page)