Arizona republican., 1914-11-29
WILL PROTEST
 PROJECT COST
Meeting of Farmers Organ izes Associated Water Users, Who Will Oppose Administration Measures Within the Valley.

Preliminary steps were taken yes terday by about seventy five farm CTS. for the formation of stock company, to be known as the As sociated Water Users," an organiza tion with an elastic membership re- quirement, and a policy in which it is specified that certain wrongful charges for reclamation construction work shall be opposed either by leg islation or before the commissions which will assess the cost of the project. The organization is based on the old Farmers Protective league, which was yesterday declared to be formally defunct, giving place to this newer, more virile association.
 Believing that the Salt River Val ley Water Users Association is be- ing conducted lilly for the benefit of the smaller land owners. the Asso- ciated Water Users would not accept membership in the larger body as one of the qualifications for mem- bership in the new one, and finally the membership requirement. was made so elastic that it will include land owners. bona fide holders of contracted lands and holders of school lands A clause to include renters was stricken out on the representa- ton of one member on the ground that the inclusion of that class of water users would endanger the chances the body might have, of get ting consideration from the high of ficials in the reclamation service. Once before. it was said, the old protective association had failed be- cause it had as it's head, a man who did not own or operate any irrigated land
 The full publicity on all project work will be demanded of the local reclamation officials. But the main purpose of the association is to com bat conditions, which the platform says were induced by the continued refusal of the authorities to tell the farmers what they were doing. Par ticularly, the twenty-year extension act and the project cost survey plar will be opposed. It was not made clear how they should be opposed but one member said the association ought to demand two members on thu local cost reviewing board, instead O one, as is now contemplated. It wal also suggested that the Associated Water Users put cost commission of it's own on the job and that tn findings of this board should be pre- sented either to congress or to tn
 
 stitute for the report that the sec retary's own commission would ulti mately submit.
 The morning session was taken u with organizing a temporary assocla ton. which resulted in a report fror a committee on permanent organiza tion. That report was simply tha Vic Messinger be chairman and Da Coverdale secretary, and as it wa accepted, these officers assumed the duties before the adjournment.
 An attorney was suggested, and al ter considerable discussion, the mat ter was dropped it being shown ths in spite of the associations gres need of legal advice. there was organization of any financial stand ing, yet, and so, no attorney could ! hired. It was not specified who tf attorney should be, but one speak' said there were only two in Pho' nix, who were not so wrapped up other business they could serve II purposes of the farmers organizs tion.
 In the afternoon, the committee by laws and constitution submitted partial report. which included pr' amble. setting forth the plan and pu pose of organization. There IS to president and vice president | each school district and a secreta and treasurer, presumably TOT u whole organization. The executl committee is to be the official Tan ily Stock is to be sold to U amount of s25,000, possibly at Il dollars a share.
 & B. Barrett submitted a resol tion during the final moments or meeting. which said: We reque