The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-10-08
THE OREGON WATER
LAWS IN JEOPARDY
The Adoption of a Proposed Iniative
Measure Would Destroy Workings
and Effect of Law, Leave Water
Right at Sea and indefinitely De-
lay and Retard Development.
BY c. B. Mcconnell in Burns
Times-Herald.

BY c. B. Mcconnell in Burns
Times-derald.
Our water code was adopted after
long consideration, exhaustive re-
search and careful deliberation. Tho
matter was before several sessions of
the legislature, which had the assist
ance of the best technical, engineer
ing and legal talent that the law
might be efficient and conform to the
various supreme court decisions per-
tanning to water rights. The law
has proven most efficient and its le-
gality has stood the test in every case
before the courts.
The adoption of the proposed ini-
tiative measure (Nos. SAG and 347
on official pallot) would as complete
ly destroy the working and effect of
the law as if same was entirely re-
pealed. 1t would cut off all fixed
appropriations, upset and destroy all
organized departments under the
law, leave all matters of pending ad-
Indications and determination and
record of existing water rights "up
in the air." and indefinitely retard
and delay development. Its adop-
tion would not save a dollar to the
state, put on the other hand would
cause an inestimable loss and waste
to both the state and the individual
citizen.
Section l of the measure abolishes
the Desert Land Board and throws
the duties of that board back to the
State Land Board.
The Desert Land Board was Great
ed in 1909. 1t consists Of Governor
Secretary of State, State Treasurer,
Attorney General and State Engineer,
who serve without additional COM
pensation to their respective salaries
as fixed by law. This board has
charge of all reclamation work and
all matters pertaining to water rights
or the carey Act projects.
The State Land Board consists of
the Governor, Secretary of State and
State Treasurer, constituting a Board
of Commissioners to dispose of the
state lands and invest the proceeds
arising therefrom.
Prior to 1909 the State Land Board
handled the Carey Act projects and
made dismal failure of them. This
was largely due to the fact that its
members did not have the time nor
the legal and technical qualifications
to prepare proper contracts and to
see that the work under the con-
tracts was being properly done and
carried on to the advantage of the
settler These defects were provided
for by calling in the Attorney Gener-
al, the legal adviser of the state, and
the State Engineer to pass upon and
be in direct charge of the technical
and engineering features.
The members of the State Land
Board are fully occupied with the
duties of their respective offices.
In the past the Board has been so
busy that it has. practically given
away the valuable school, swamp and
tide lands of the state, the heritage
to the school fund.
1t will be seen that the change con-
templated in Sec. / of the proposed
measure abolishes no official and pro-
duces no economy. 1t simply
changes the combination of the pres
ent state officials and does not save a
dollar of state funds.
Sections 8 and Of the proposed
measure attempts to legislate the
present State Engineer out of office
provides that the engineer of the
Tumalo project shall perform the
duties of the State Engineer until
: 1915, at salary as now fixed by the
Desert Land Board, and that there
after a hydraulic engineer shall be
appointed by the State Land Board
: at a salary of $2400 per annum.
The present State Engineer re-
ceives salary of $500 per annum,
The engineer on the Tumalo project
receives salary of $4,000 per annum
as now fixed by the board.
If it is necessary to have an engin-
eer on the Tumalo project (some s
to Is miles off the Deschutes railway
lines,) can we depend upon him be-
ing able to look after the reclamation
matters in other parts of the state?
Can competent engineer who has
!. devoted the necessary time and ex-
pense in acquiring technical educa-
ton be found to take the office al
, $2400 per annum?
There is no permanent fund or ap-
preparation for the Tumalo Project
The present appropriation is exhaust
, ed and the next legislature must pro
a vide for its future maintenance. vii
it provide for competent engineer
r. This cannot be considered polite
y al issue as Mr.. Lewis, the present in
cumbent, goes on the ballot as thu
a regular nominee of the Republican
q and Democratic parties. Mr.. Laura
+ gard the Tumalo project engineer
registered last Spring at Redmond
as a Republican and later changed
n the party designation to the Demo
h cratic party.
e Sections S, 6, and 7 of the propos
j. ed measure provides that the Stat
q Water Board shall be abolished AM
v one Water Commissioner apDointe,
L rd OF In