Arizona republican., 1912-03-15
ANNOUNCEMENT 0F J. P. 0RME
President of Water Users Association, Having Cast His "Hat in the Ring" '" Tells Why He Aspires to Re Election

Mir. Orme makes the following state ment in reference to his candidacy for reelection as president of the Sal; River Valley Water Users Association.
 In asking for the support of the members of the Association to be con- tmued in the office l now hold, l dp- sire to point to ;he record of the last two years, as to what has been ac- complishCl for the association during my administration. The books and rec ords are open to any interested mem Der as there is nothing we have tO conceal about our work. During the last two years the association has col lected more than a half million dollars. and every cent of this amount which has been expended, has been put to the best possible use for all concerned. In the awarding of contracts for con StructiOn work in connection with the power plants, which are now being erected. all material and supplies have been purchased after competition. and in every case the award has been made to the lowest bidder. In this work l believe that my practical experience
 
 miiiarity with irrigation matters has been of value in transactinG the asso- ciation's business. My time has been devoted to this work in the same man ner as if il Was my own personal af- fair. All of the affairs of the asso- citation have been most carefully and conscentiously transacted and we claim the credit in the Salt River Val ley Water Users Association of hay ing the model office of all the pro- iects. Instead of the association de- pending on the government records as kept by the Reclamation Service as is the case Tn many of the projects in our project the government comes to he association office records for veri- fication of local land records.
 As for the agitation now going on looking to a congressional investiga- tion of the expenditures of the Rccla- mation Service on this project l wish to stare that am unalterably opposed to any such action at this time. An investigation would be certain to post pone congressional action on pending measures looking to our relief in the matter of extending the time within which We are to make payment of construction charges and granting other relief until after the committee can visit Arizona make its oXamina- tion and report. This might take year or more. Then too the commit tee after investigation might conclude that We do not need any relief and so report especially so if it shoulI finj. as I believe to be the fact. that the Reclamation Service has honestly eX- pended the reclamation funds. In my opinion We stand to lose more than We can possibly gain by pressing for an investigation at any rate for the pres ent.
 As the result of our recCn, trip tO Washington in the interest of the association We have secured assurance of favorable action on practically ev- every question that was put up to tn" department and to congress These include closer understanding with the reclamation service so that the aSso- citation may be kept informed of any contemplated contract for disposal of power to ,be generated on the project. Another point is the approval of the principle by which the water users may complete the distributing system by means of credit contracts so that they may the sooner receive water for their lands and get credit for the work thus done on their future payments for construction charges. We also re- ceived assurance from the committees of both houses of congress that they will report favorably q bill providing for an extension of time for repay ment of cons truction charges to twen- ty years from the date of the opening Of the project.
 As is well known to those who are at all familiar with the subject both the reclamation act and the articles of incorporation of the association pro vide that the land which is to receive the benefits of the reservoir and hence pay its share of the charges must be designated by the secretary of the in terior before the project is opened and also that the cost of construction must be announced and its propOrtiOnate rate per acre fixed before that time. This all takes place before the gov ernment requires one cent 10 De pahi bv the water users on account Of con- struction charges. With this record to stand on and the pledge to give my best efforts and most conscientious work for the benefit of all -he water users included within the project ask for the indorsement of the aSso- ciation's work as thus carried on by my reelection to the office which II now hold.
 J. P ORME
 THE THRIFTY HOUSEWIFE.
 yt-bo copd,c+c bnr household in a