Arizona republican., 1912-09-24
Approved Contract of As sistant Interior Secretary Adams Turned Down Unanimously Because of Objection to Clause ).
MATTER NOW UP
 TO WALTER l.. FISHER
All Day Joint Meeting of Governors and Council With Congressman Hay den Ends in Resolve to Fight.

lS ilj.
 The farmers will have none of it. At a joint meeting, which took all day yesterday the board of governors and council of the Salt river valley water rsers association unanimously reject ed the modified water rental contract submitted last week by Acting Secre- tary Adams of the interior department and took steps to appeal from the de- cision of the assistant to Secretary Walter L. Fisher, and to President Taft himself if necessary. They showed a determination to fight the matter out along any line that may present itself, and keep fighting until an equitable conclusion is reached.
 The matter has now developed to the stage where it will soon become apparent whether the association or MT Adams is the more powerful in administering the Salt River valley project The best representation of the water users of the valley has taken a stand in opposition to the contract and the man in whose hands is left the entire say as to irrigation and rec lamation placed the word final in his letter to that body; and only the fu ture can show what will come of it all Having decided, unanimously, to oppose the new contract, the board and council appointed men and in structed them to gather data concern ing the situation and prepare it for presentation to Secretary of the In- terior Walter L. Fisher, who may be induced to pay Phoenix a visit on his return from Honolulu Until the ap- peal can be taken to MT. Fisher, and until his last word has been spoken. the water rental question will remain absolutely in the air, neither the rec lamation officers nor the users of water, themselves, knowing what may be done to mitigate the evils of the situation.
 Twenty three of the thirty council men and nine of the eleven governors, in all representing every district, met at the call of President Orme; Legal Advisor Cnristy and Carl Hayden, be- ing present From nine in the morn ing until one o'clock, the discussion ragged, though there was no opposition to the policy of rejection. When the time of adjournment was reached 1t was apparent there could be absolute ly no hope for the newly offered agreement The only difference Of opinion manifested among the direc- tors, concerned the method of win ming the fight for the Salt River farm CTS. Reassembling, the body again took up the argument; set as they were against the contract, the sole topic was how to get the matter be- fore the proper authorities and how to make it sufficiently impressive to convey the idea of utter rejection
 As modified the contract reduces somewhat the toll for water. It does not. however present anything new or changed in place of section five of the first proposed form. The para graph is added, which provides that waste and supply ditches must be maintained in good shape 0y the man who is benefited by them, and fur ther. if he does not care for the ditch on his neighbors' land, the government win do so for him, charge it to ms land. and stop service of water until the amount is paid in full. This will have the effect of assuring the land owners they are not to be responsible for another mans waste or serVlce ditch. it's cleanness and fitness for use, but the provision remains that man must yield a certain right of way over his property. And paragraph i've says NO water will be furnished here under as long as the applicant fails to comply with the provisions herein contained" That was the basis of the main protest.
 As to the rate, the water users de- cided it is still too high. Even with the reduction from the former charge Of $40 to the present proposed one of S2S5 for the apportionment of wa ter shown to be necessary under the Hurleyus. Abbott decision, the board considers the tax too heavy, and Will include that in their formal objection to the secretary.
 It was decided to appeal directly 10 the secretary. MT. Orme under mis- take. announced that Secretary Fisher would be here on October 10. He had heard from one of the reclamation oK- ficers, that Fisher would arrive at that time, but did not know the Fisher referred to is Dr. A K Fisher of the department of agriculture.
 After he had left for Salt Lake last night, it was discovered there was an error in identity, and Carl Hayden un- dertook to have the right Fisher in Phoenix about the tenth of next
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