Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-03-27
The Carey Act
Commission Bill.
Reason for its Defeat as Outlined
by Attorney Victor O.
Johnson.

on the head of Victor q. Johnson,
for the defeat Of the Carey Act Com
mission bill, unless it was delib-
crate attempt on the part Of that
paper to discredit the high stand
ing OF Mr.. johnson among Carey
Act settlers.
Being the legal representative of
the farmers OF the North Side tract,
they are probably in as close touch
with him as any one, and while he
did not represent them otiiciall in
this matter, they have thus far
found no reason to question the
sincerity of this gentleman in his
efforts to bring about the passage Of
this measure. At our request Mr..
johnson has furnished us the fol-
lowing history of the bill which |
needs no further comment.
IN the Idaho Leader OF last week il
was stated that the Carey act bill was
vetoed because it repealed section 1929 OF
the code providing that the construc-
ton company should have lien to Sc
cure future payments. 1t then proceeds
with the following statement:
The bill as originally drawn by w.
T. Stafford, and the board of directors
of the Water Users association did not
contain this clause.
The bill was left in Boise to the man
agement OF Victor O. Johnson. who had
entire charge OF it. 1t is the claim of
the settlers that Mr.. Johnson inserted
the clause which killed their bill. and
that without consulting any OF them-
There is not particle of truth in any
portion OF the above statement. The bill
was not originally drawn by W. I.
stafford, nor 10y the board of directors of
the water association. 1t was not left in
Boise in my management, nor did /
have any charge OF il, whatever The
truth about the bill is easily ascertaned,
and the facts herein stated can be veri-
fled by any gentleman who had any
connection with the bill.
Early in the session Mr.. Finney, OF
the Salmon Falls tract, requested Mr..
iladdock and myself to meet Mr.. .Staf-
ford, Mr. Bowen, Mr.. Nihart, and pos
sihly other gentlemen in Boise 10 prepare
Carey act commission bill. was sick
at the time, but Mr.. Haddock went &c
! Boise, when he met several OF the gen
tlemen and the matter was discussed. II
I was then agreed to have further meet
-, ing to actually draft the bill. At this
meeting no one appeared, except Mr.
Stafford, Mr. Haddock and myself. Ii
the meantime Mr.. Haddock and ha,
n drawn rough draft oi a bill and W,
J.. went oyer this with Mr. Stafford in thi
] second meeting in Boise. We then pro
cured stenographer and proceeded t,
Il draw the bill, Mr.. Stafford and Mr.
h Haddock making suggestions, and Iii,
O the debating. The bill was completed
4 late that evening. Mr. Stafford and
! obtained it after office hours.
turned the copies over 10 Mr.. Stai
i ford and he promised to see that the
:, reached Mr., Nihart, who was then il
the hospital left Boise that night an,
= never saw the bill until several week
later when it had been introduced am
printed. never had charge OF the bil
Z and never agreed that l. would give
Is any attention in the legislature.
| ,f.aA h
-. Twin Falls North Side Canal Users
association, but neither the associatio
nor any of its officers, directors or mem
III bers ever requested or authorized us t
a do any work in the matter or spend an
l. OF the association funds in carfare 4
Of hotel bills in promoting a Carey act con
mission. The work that We did va
purely voluntary and the expense OF II
u three trips, which was between $50 an
s6O were paid ont OF our own pockets
Now, rs To the repeal of section l62'
1t was never the intent of any OF Ills
repeal this section. In going over Il
bill and writing the title, Mr.. Statfor
=. and | discussed section l629 and agree
that there was no good reason ior r
~ pealing il, and it should be left just As
IN was. An examination OF the title OF Il
e. hill rs printed shows that section l6
a was not repealed. Each of the sectio
y, to be repealed is mentioned in the It'll
~ but 1929 is not one OF them.
In the body of the bill, section 1929
''e numbered among the sections repeale
To This was mistake, either OF the steno
rapher OF OF the printer, and is certain