Arizona republican., 1913-05-02
The Representatives Of All
Water Users ASsocia-
tions as Well as Others
Interested III Work Are
in Conference
RECLAMATIO\
SENATOR'S THERE
President John p. Olme of
the Local Association
Talks for Two Hours and
is Then Given Severe
CrOSS-EXaminatiOn
BY o. x. Davis, Cores spondent of the
Republican in Washington

Republican in Washington
WASHINGTON. d. G.. May l.-Ari- !
coma had field day at the interior [
department today when Secretary
Lane opened his conference on recla- /
nation Questions arising from the
Roosevelt and Yuma prppects we're
the first ones taken up. and the en-
tire session was devoted u discus
sion OF them. The matter had only
been fairly opened when the confer
,ucc adjourned for the day, ana when
lr is resumed tomorrow afternoon
Arizona win stm hoId the center Of
the stage.
In a general way, Mr.. Lane has I
been more or less familiar for years
with the character of questions alis
ing out Of the settling and manage
nent of the government irrigation
projects But he had not that de-
tailed information regarding them
which he felt was necessary for him
10 give intelligent and full justice to
them in his capacity as secretary Of
the Interior where he is called upon
to deal finally with many Of the
problems. The work of the depart
ment is 50 heavy that ne found him
self unable To set apart time sufficient
to enable him to make personal visits
to the various reclamation works, and
so ne determined to hold Il sort of
get together conference. something
on the plan Of a congressional COM
mittee hearing, in the department, ut
which representatives of all the va
ter users associations. as well as
others Interested in the reclamation
work. whether as members Of the
reclamation service or as outsiders.
might appear and state their cases
and their views.
In response to his invitation. repre-
sentatives of every water users asso-
citation in the country We're present
i'm his office this afternoon when the
first session opened. The senators
and most of the representatives from
the different states where rcclama-
tion projects have been undertaken
were also present. as We're various
members of the reclamation service.
Besides the entire Arizona dclega
tion in congress. there We're present
from that state John +. Orne, prcsi-
dent Of the Water Users association
Of the Salt River. or Roosevelt, pro-
ject. and George d. Christy, attorney
Tor the association: Thomas Donovan
president of the Yuma Project as
sociation. and Thomas Malloy. George
Nicholson and J. II. Westover Of the
board of governors of the Yuma as
sociation. Samuel Barrett of the
Land Owners association Of the
Roosevelt project was also present, as
was Earl &. Smith, president of the
i.,sf fT.,,
Secretary Lane opened the confer
ence in 4 brief speech, in which he
said he was acting merely as the
agent of the government, the first de-
sire of which was the good of the
water users. He announced that in
asmuCh as it was a voluntary confer
cnce. ana not a formal hearing, every
one would he free to express opinions
or state facts-nobody would be sworn
and anybody could ask all the ques-
tions he desired of any witness. With
that understanding that it was to he
Il free-forall performance, Mr.. Orme
was the first to take the stand. He
spoke for about two hours. and at
the start was permitted to develop
his ease practically without inter
ruption. He followed closely the
statement Of instructions adopted by
the board of governors of the Salt
River association at their meeting
April %. for the guidance of their
delegates today having first pre-
scented a connected history of tho in
ception and development of the pro
ject ana of the Water Users asso-
citation.
The first paragraph. that concerning
the payment of annual minimum
maintenance charge, was discussed by
Mr. Ormc practically without inter
ruption. But the second paragraph
that declaring for the right of the
association to approve any and al
contracts for power or expenditure
before made and that all revenue
from power should be credited on th'
annual payments due under the recla
nation act, provoked a lively genera
discussion.
This brought out at once the stor!
Of the contract with the Pacific Ga
x Electric company. and for an hou
or more this whole subject wa
threshed over. back and forth unit
it seemed as if everybody in the room
and there were at least $50. had takel
part in the discussion. Representa-
tives Hensley of Missouri and Gallo
way Of Texas. who were instrumental
in making the recent report on tn
reclamation service which 50 strongl
scored Director Newell. went afte
Mr.. Orme with all the vigor of a NeN
York City district attorney prosecut
ing sensational murder case. Rep
Continued on Page Eleven)