East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-12-14

should unite in support of the pro-
ject and explained the weakness of a
congressional delegation when its
home people are in controversy as to
what should be done.
Projection for Settlers.
The third resolution, contended Mr.
Johnson, embodied everything that
could possibly be done by Pendleton
people towards protecting the rights
of the settlers of the upper river. He
showed that the resolution calls for
allowing settlers on the upper river
to water their lands and asks the gov
ernment to reassure them in their
rights and to subserve their welfare
in carrying out its reclamation work.
DIR. Goes Offer.
As to DR.. Goes offer to transfer the
Andrew c. Smith filing to the Com
mercial club for use for the benefit
of all the waterusers on the river, Mr..
Johnson declared that such a pro-
Ceeding would constitute an aban-
donment of the filing and would al
low any person who desired to do so
to make the same identical filing
again and thus bottle up the waters
of the river just as If the Smith fill
ing had been continued. The speak
er declared his belief that other law
yers would uphold him in this view
and none of the attorneys present had
anything to say in dissent.
Stciwcr Had Substitute.
At the conclusion of r. r. john
sons discussion Frederick Steiwer
said he had prepared resolution
which he would Introduce for adop-
tion in the event the other resolutions
were defeated Later he changed his
course to the extent that he asked
merely that his resolution be added to
those already submitted.
Though longer than the other reso-
lutions submitted the Steiwer resolu-
ton differed from them mainly in
that his resolution denounced the gov
crnment severely for the adjudication
suits and demanded that they be
abandoned. In upholding his resolu-
ton Steiwer declared himself against
the west extension but said he would
not oppose it, confining his efforts to
his resolution, which contained an en-
dorsement of the extension.
j. Roy Raley also came to the sup
port of the Steiwer amendment and
presented in its behalf arguments
along the same line as those of Mr..
Steiwer. though the city attorney de-
clared himself to be favorable to the
west extension.
johnson Is Champion.
The attempt to pass the Steiwer
| resolution as an addition to those or
! igina,ly introduced brought r. r.
| Johnson to the floor and n vigorous
| defense of the governments action.
In detail Mr.. Johnson told of the con-
ditions prior to the passage of the
| Oregon water code and of the status
of affairs since that time He upheld
the adjudication of water rights and
! insisted the government had acted
properly in bringing the Umatilla
suits. He argued that because the
complaint states that 2.5 acre feet Is
sufficient for local needs it does not
follow the courts VIII adopt that am
cunt of water as a standard.
To have the adjudication suits dis
missed would be merely to return tc
chaos and force private users to bring
such suits.
For over an hour the Steiwer am.
endment was warmly debated with
| Messrs. Steiwer and Raley supporting
it and Mr.. Johnson opposing. ]. p
Winter also dipped into the fray a
critical times and C. II. Carter once
rose to ask of Mr.. Steiwer what mem
| I'd I1o
with dishonesty. In reply Steiwei
disclaimed sf.r purpose of assailins
any member of the board.
Amendment Rejected.
When the long debate had been con
cluded, President Smythe announced
that a written ballot would be takei
upon the adoption of the amendment
Sam r. Thompson and G. 1. Ladov
were named as tellers and the vot
was taken. The amendment lost by
vote OF A to 26. there being but Z
members present when the ballot wa
taken owing to the fact that man
had left feeling that the fight for tn
extension had been won and that tn
fight was over a question of proceed
ure.
After the Steiwer amendment ha
been voted down, ]. r. Raley move
that n vive voce vote be taken upo
the three resolutions then upon tn
9 table. When the vote was taken
1 storm of ayes resounded and but on
man. James Johns, voted in the mega
= tive.
For Reclamation Money.
oi We unqualfedly and unre ervedl
go on record In Joining with the on