Arizona sentinel Yuma southwest., 1916-01-06
REPORT OF COST REVIEW BOARD
 COMING SOON; STOP SALARY GRAB
(By B. F. Fly)

and Dr. B. P. Fleming, have
 not yet been filed with Secre.
 tary Lane. 1 have just learn.
 ed that during Christmas
 week the report was still un-
 finished, but was being given
 thorough study bv the two
 distinguished g gentl e m e n
 above named.
 While this is a distinct dis
 appointment, yet it shows
 that the report is receiving
 very careful consideration at
 the hands of the local board.
 Dr. Mead being chairman lof the Central Board of Cost
 Review, naturally presages
 that whatever he reports will De adopted by the central board in their report to Secre- tary Lane, and the latter hav- ing perfect confidence in this board will more than likely act upon their report as they recommend.
 No other project presents the diff cult problems for adjustment as are presented by Yuma project. No other project has the river front protection work to deal with; no other project has dam across a navigable river; no other project has any mesa lands to think about-all of which Yuma has. And each of these is big ques- ton within itself No wonder, there fore, that the two distinguished in- vestigators are still wrestling with the report
 I am informed that the report will not be ready before about the middle of February, but it's nature no one of course knows.
 While waiting for the final report, and for Secretary Lanes word as to what the costs are to be per acre, the Water Users are beginning to think more seriously of their association al- fairs. They will be of vostly more inn portance after the costs have been fixed than they have heretofore been. The Water Users Association will then be in the saddle, for they will likely be expected to assume control of the ditches and canals and look out for their operation and maintenance, as we'll as for their general better ment.
 At present there seems a scheme on foot to raise the salaries of the board of governors, the council and the president. I have yet to learn, however, why it is necessary to go back into the big salary business. To an outsider it would seem that the average water user has heavy enough l burden to carry already, without load | ing him down with such salaries as used to exist in the water users asso- citation, when they were forced to pay the president $2,0OO per year-for what? The Lord only knows, and He | hasn't seen fit to tell anybody. When the $2,000 annual salary was knocked | in the head, it was fixed at $500, and | such it should remain, no matter who may be elected at the forthcoming March election.
 If any man wants the office simply for the salary, that is the very man that the waters users can best serve themselves by keeping him at home. The present officials of the Water Users Association are now working in perfect harmony with the reclamation It will be a crying shame to elect any man to office in that or 5anization who will attempt to disturb these friendly relations. We have had too much scrapping between the U. s. Reclamation Service and the water users already. Let's not have any more of it.
 Kill any attempt that may be made to foist salary grab on the Associa- -ion, and you at once put stop to all attempts to disturb these friendly re- ations. More work and less talk is what we need during the year 1916. When the duties of president become SO burdensome that all the presidents time is required in the office will be ample time to talk about raising his salary. President Thacker says $500 IS enough. Let those who wish to be 1is successor be equally as consider ate of the water users.