El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-25
COST REVIEW
MEETINGS OPEN
Committee Holds First SEES
ton and Adjourns Until
Monday Morning.

Meetings Of the cost review board of
the Rio Grande valley irrigation pro-
ject, which embraces the Elephant
Butte dam and its irrigation system,
viii be open to the public and there will
be no effort to suppress any informa-
ton which may come before the board
as evidence. This was the informal
and unanimous decision Of the board
members when they met Friday morn
ing IN the chamber Of commerce to be-
gin the work Of estimating the cost Of
The giant project since its inception 10
years ago.
No evidence was submitted Friday
morning. After an Informal prepara-
tory discussion, adjournment was taken
until Monday morning at II o'clock.
L. n Lawson, project engineer at FL
Paso; Prof. 7. T. Taylor, dean Of the
engineering department of the Texas
university, and l. W. Clapp, president
Of the Elephant Butte Water Users as
ISOLATION compose the board Prot
Taylor and Mr.. Lawson will leave FL
Paso this afternoon for a visit to the
big dam. which the professor has never
seen. He is chairman Of the board
May Be Some Clashes.
Although the first meeting was
smooth and peaceful indications are
that there will be some excitement be
fore the session is ended, on account
Of the controversy now in progress be-
tween the reclamation service and the
Mesilla valley water users over The
payment Of certain charges which the
government seeks to make on the con-
cumers for irrigation facilities AtIOr-
neys for the New Mexico farmers and
the FL Paso valley water consumers
were present at Friday mornings ses-
sion.
Practically the only business trans
acted was the reading Of a letter to
chairman Taylor from the reclamation
commission, in which the commission
ers asked to be put on record as favor
ing oDen meetings Of the board The
letter said that il had been reported in
formally TO the reclamation service that
board meetings have been held secretly,
the charge carrying with IL the impIi-
cation that il was done for the pur-
Asks Public Hearings.
Without" says the communication,
going into the truth Of the report or
desiring TO interfere with the discretion
Of the board as TO holding private meet
ings whenever it is deemed necessary,
the reclamation service wants to go on
record as favOring holding meetings
open to any visitor, so long as he is not
unruly.
The purpose OF the cost review is to
afford the men who are to pay the bills
an opportunity to scrutinize all items
and clear up all MISUNDERSTANDING
that may exist It is also suggested
that after the board OF review hears all
the evidence and arguments, that in
addition to its findings, it recommend:
"a What action may be taken to
afford proper and necessary relief I
without further legislation
"Cb) What further legislation Is
necessary TO accomplish needed and
equitable relief"
Letter FavorabIy Received
The letter was signed by A. P Davis, /
chairman Of the reclamation commits
sion. and Prof. Taylor ordered that IL Z
be read into the minutes Of the meeting
Its tone created favorable comment J
from the board members and water I
users present.
Present at the session were H B. {
Holt and Richard Burgess. attorneys for j
the Elephant Butte and FL Paso Valley /
Water Users association; Porter W /
Dent. legal adviser to the reclamation Z
service; Terrell Bartlett, consulting :
engineer for the water users; T. ]. I
special auditor employed by 4
the associations to audit the accounts /
Of the dam ana irrigation project; J. B. 4
AIcGhee and A. NJ. Mood, board report 4
ers; Prof. Taylor, L NJ Lawson and L.
". Clapp.