Arizona republican., 1912-09-08
Legal Adviser of Salt River Valley Water Users As sociation Tells of Measure of His Success in His Washington Mission
FIRST RECEPTION
 WAS A COOL ONE
Senatorial Influence Thawed Out the Department and He Was Able Then to Deliver His Arguments Very Effectively

"The new water contract will be materially changed It was not pos sible to secure an extension, or the abolition of pernicious features, but there will be relief on at least two points," said Captain George D. Christy last night concerning the business for the water users, on which he has been engaged in Wash ington. In explaining the points on which changes will be made MT. Christy mentioned section g.. refer ring to rights of way for waste and supply ditches, the high charge per acre foot as compared to that for pumped water in some projects, and the establishment of a minimum of three acre feet on the first charge, as too small an amount to irrigate Salt river valley land.
 Captain Christy was two weeks in the capital before he got any more than ordinary recognition from the heads of the reclamation service and the men in the interior department. At first it was necessary to get the assistance of the Arizona senators, before he could get a hearing with the officers of the department. When he had presented his case. first mo- destly, then with plain and at last with harsh facts" he was told there would be some changes made in the form of contract. the points on which he raised objections would be modi- fled, to a certain extent, and the ser vice would do all it possibly could to relieve the farmers of the valley. The difficulties of securing hearing were smoothed away toward the last. Director Newell and later Chief En- i gineer Arthur P. Davis both assured the captain they would help make the ! changes asked for Both admitted 1 the charges were too high, the para graph referring to waste ditches not constitutional and the agreement per- nicious in several ways. Davis con- ceded the farmers ought to have been | consulted before the contract was proposed to the Washington office.
 MT. Newell would not go so far as to say the contract was entirely bad, l but asked for two weeks in which to get facts before making any changes at all. In reply to the proposal to | wait. Mir. Christy insisted on imme- diate action, saying the farmers must know where they stand, and just what they may expect from the recla- nation service this fall. Hayden. Smith and Ashurst came in handy there, for they were influential in getting the matter before the imme- diate attention of the director
 The two weeks of his stay in Washington were sufficiently full of argument Ten hours a day was the l of pd ferences with Assistant Secretary Adams of the interior, Director New ell. and the statesmen who were in-
 terested in the proposition Objec-
 tions were met on every hand, but the farmers kick was duly registered in spite of all sorts Of difficulties.
 Lots of driving, hard bitted argu-
 ment and a set of facts worked won
 ders among the rather obdurate of
 ficials. Although he does not know exactly what has been accomplished.
 Captain Christy is sure the Washing
 ton people realize the contract is un-
 worthy, Christy said he could assure
 the farmers they would get relief, in
 some parts of the agreement If
 nothing is done to lessen the load
 the contract imposes, Christy advises
 a fight in the courts, and adds there
 is a certainty of winning. If they
 don't come through the farmers
 should refuse to sign the new agree
 ment; and if water is denied them,
 enjoin the local officials from cut
 ting off the supply" he said.
 MT. Adams announced as Christy
 was leaving he would have to con
 suit Louis Hill before anything is
 done about the contract. The captain , reminded him the farmers had not
 been consulted before the form was
 submitted to Washington, and there
 the matter was left About two weeks n is the length of time Christy allows ] the government to make then I 1 changes He thinks that plenty oi n time to get the ideas of experts or S the matter of minimum water duty : and by the middle of the month ex- . poets the modified form will be trans f mitted to the Phoenix office for the
 signing of lands for next years wa
 ter supply.
 On arriving in the capital Christy
 went to see Adams. He passed tht l whole morning in consultation Witf
 the assistant secretary of the inter : for At the end of the conference h' ' was asked to write down all his ob = jections to the contract and submit =, them. Adams was surprised when h' :, got a copy the next day, for the cap - tain went directly to Senator Smith: 1 | oa