The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-04-16
MAY TIE UP CONTRACT

As a means to prevent the pro
posed extension Of the government
drainage system into the Ten Mile
creek district, near Meridian. on
ponents to the plan have developed
an unexpected attack in the Seventh
Judicial district court. says the Meri-
dian correspondent in Wednesdays
BOISE Statesman. The basis for the
attack is the claim that the govern
ment has no right to enter into his
or any contract with the Mamma
Meridian or Pioneer irrigation dis
tricts.
Some time ago the Nampa-Meri-
dian district filed a friendly suit at
Caldwell for confirmation of its pro-
ceedings and its drainage contract
with the government. Much to the
surprise OF the officers, attorneys for
those protesting against extending
the present system appeared in court
Monday to oppose this confirmation.
These attorneys assert that they will
carry the question of the govern
ment's right TO make such a contract
through to the supreme court.
Those informed in the matter de-
clare that the suit is preposterous
and has been framed up as a mere
underhand pretext to delay the pro
posed extension. They say that the
idea that the federal government
would become party to a contract
that was not legal and correct is
absurd
1t is further alleged by those fay-
orlng the extension of the drainage
system that the opposing coterie in
tends to expend in the suit they are
now starting funds which were col
lected for use as fighting fund when
the real attack began. Approx |
mately ITS owners of lands filed pro-
tests against the proposed extension.
In order to fight the matter a levy |
of 10 cents an acre was assessed |
against the lands of these parties. 1t |
is said that this fund is now to be |
expended in the premature fight |
against the contract, initiated at |
Caldwell Monday. The real attack |
OF the opposition, it is stated, should /
be made when the matter of ap- |
portioning the benefits of the drain |
age system comes before the courts. |
When opposition to confirmation |
proceedings developed Monday a /
of the Nampa-Meridian districts
postponement of the hearing was de- /
cided upon. On Wednesday a final |
conference between attorneys for the
district and the malcontents will be I
held. Ii the objectors hold to their
program, it is pointed out I
that all hope of obtaining federal
aid for drainage relief in the upper /
districts will be gone. In order to
secure the federal aid now offered it
is necessary to accept the govern
ment's offer before July /. At that
time the matter will be taken out of
the hands of the secretary of the in
terror and a congressional appropria-
ton becomes necessary, because of a
new law passed by the last congress.
While the Nampa- Meridian officers
anticipate no trouble in defeating the
suit, the fact that it is to be appealed
through to the highes tribunal makes
it impossible to have the matter ad-
Indicated in time.
One of the proposals to be voted
On in the special election in the
Pioneer irrigation district April 80
is the matter of aiding in drainage
Of the lands in the Five and Ten
Mile creek districts. If the plan of
the insurgents is carried out it will
be useless for that district to vote on
the matter. This disarrangement in
the advertised proposal of the
Pioneer people may make it neces-
sary for them to call an entirely new
election.