The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-03
CHARGES VAGUE,
SAYSSECRETARY
Lane Rules on Allegations
Made at Water Users
Second Hearing.
DISCUSSION IS INTENSE
Barrel, Of Land 0wners' Protective
Association, Is On Stand Most
of the Afternoon.

Serious but vague charges OF incom-
petence and wastefulness on the part
of Reclamation Service officials on the
Salt River Ariz. irrigation project were
made at the hearing of water users of
Salt River Valley before Secretary OF
the Interior Lane yesterday afternoon.
When statements theoretically alleging
that 5000. 900 have been wasted on the
project, Secretary Lane carefully spoke
into the record his judgment that none
of the testimony yesterday or Thurs
day had included definite allegations of
the waste of specific amounts Of money
Senator Mark A. Smith of Arizona, who
had asked whether settlers on the lands
irrigated by the project should have to
pay for 100000 of waste and Should
be charged with intent to "repudiate"
their contracts. explained that he HIM
self had used the figures. not as imply
ing a charge that there had been so
much waste, but merely as an example.
Suggested Reputation" caused the in
tensest discussion SO far in Secretary
Lanes 'get-together' hearings Sam
Barrett, of the Land Owners Protective
Association, was on the stand most OF
the afternoon, and it was in interroga-
tories propounded to him by Senator
Newlands. Representative Raker, and
others among the room-full of watchful
N-esterners that the debate was hottest.
So warm did it become in fact, that
Secretary Lane reminded the orators
that the witness was being overlooked.
Westerners who addressed the Secre-
tary expressed Indignation that the wa
ter users of the West should be accused
or suspected of an endeavor or desire
to ''repudate'' their contracts. The
word "repudiate," they asserted, was
originated in Washington, and THE peo-
al - n1 10 o,,1xr frOf
Washington.
Lane Asks for Names.
Mr.. Barrett intimated that representa-
tives of the Reclamation Service had in
timidated water users of the Salt River
Valley to vote in their association meet
ings as the service officials desired, and
Secreary Lane promptly asked for the
names of any persons or officials in
volved in such actions. The witness
did not give any names on the stand.
Mr.. Barrett alleged that reclamation
officials are doing improper things, and
that they are incompetent.
When the hearing was resumed at l
o'clock yesterday Attorney George Chris
~, of the Water Users Association, was
on the stand. Senators Ashurst, New
lands, Fall, and Representatives Ora
ham, Baker, and Hensley, were among
those present.
Much of the same ground was gone
over as on Thursday and President
Orme of the Water Users Association,
was kept on the stand for soSne time as
9 result of his arising to file brief on
behalf of his association.
The result of somewhat promscuous
and confusing questioning was a ruling
by the Secretary that no questioner
should have more than two tries at a
single witness.
Representative Hensley introduced a
sporting note by drawing from Mr..
Barrel and Attorney Christy a descrip-
ton of how Mr.. Howard Reed used a
government motor car to go out to
thrash" young Mr.. Jack. The point
was that Mr.. Jack, a user, took the
liberty of going over the head of Mr..
Reed, the unpopular distributor of water.
The result was that they went off the
reservation and to the i'll disguised salts
faction of all users Mr. Reed was
the thrashee and young Mr.. Jack the
thra asher. Mr.. Jack is smaller man
than Nh. Reed.
Coalition Charged.
When Mr. Barrett took the stand he
succeeded in bringing out what he had
attempted without signal success by
questioning Mr.. Orme. Mr.. Barrett al
legged that a coalition existed between
the Reclamation Service, the Water
Users Association, and the land specu-
lators against the small farmers of the
valley.
Mr.. Barrett noted that motor cars are
not so numerous here in our town as
they are in and about Phoenix. and he
more than intimated that the officers of
the Reclamation Service are we'll sup
piled with them, although minor officials
are obliged to content themselves with
motorcycles. Touring cars with tonneaus
are more useful because they hold SO
many more voters, it appeared. This
means of transport, Mr.. Barrett said en-
abled the opponents of his Land Owners
Protective Association to win at cleo
lions for the board of governors of the
Users Association.
1t should be explained that all PRO
tectionists" are users" but there were
several users present today who did
not appear to be protectionists. AS in
the case of the term 'irrigators," these