The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-01-14
MEETING WATER USERS
WAS LIVELY FROM
START TO FINISH
JOHN LOOK STATES BRIBE OF
$5O00.00 WAS FLOATING
AROUND TWO YEARS
AGO FOR RIGHTS
Wants to Know Why Directors Pur-
chased Extra Water at Secret meet
ing-Directors Elected for Ensu.
ing Year-Only Two Changes
made by the Stockholders.

At the annual meeting of the stock
holders of the Payette- Boise Water
Users association held in Caldwell
Tuesday, a board of directors for the
ensuing year was elected. The newly
elected members of the board with
the vote each received, is as follows:
1; }. Magee, 6l,233; J. H. Kelm, S.
24o; E. Jordan, 52.247; J. w. Brandt
5l,OI; w. E. Wood, 47,7o7; V. G.
Sparks, 43,46l; C. M. Rankin. 1929:
Z. F. Ollien, 43,10o; D. R. Hubbard.
4l.l82; Sam Hunt, 4OOl8; A. C. John,
son, $1,000.
But TWO changes were made in the
board OF directors. E. Jordan and
V. z. Sparks were elected instead of
X. w. Kingston and E. C. Bradley
Mr.. Kingston failed of election by less
than o,OOO votes, receiving 32.433,
Percy White ranked next with 81
H9. S. L. Kennedy received 24.2O3
votes. Mr.. Bradley's defeat is attri-
buted to the fact that he was sick in
bed and unable to gather votes.
Irrigation District Favored.
The most important business trans
acted, aside from the election of off
GERS, was the adoption of resolution
to the effect that the association be
converted into an irrigation district.
A warm debate followed the introduc-
ton of the resolution. The change to
an irrigation district, in case such a
change is made, will be followed by
far reaching results. Among the ef-
tects will be to compel all lands to
pay their share of the cost of the pro-
Ject in order to get water. Land
owners who are now using waste wa
ter will fight the organization of the
district SO it is stated.
The question of disposing of the
Arrowrock railroad would have caus-
ed another discussion but the secre-
tary of the association stated that a
letter had been received from the
Reclamation Service stating that the
railroad was not for sale.
Graft Charged by Look.
John Look of Caldwell and Fargo
created sensation when he stated
that consideration of 100000 was
obtainable for the man who could put
through the sale of certain water
rights. The remarks of Mr.. Look
precipitated Juror. Every director
or ex-director of the association who
was present participated in the lively
discussion which followed.
Mr.. Look secured the floor during a
temporary lull in the proceedings. He
stated that about two years ago, he
was told by man whom he named,
that IT he would visit a certain office
in Boise he could obtain an offer of
$4,000 on consideration that he nego-
tate the sale of the Page & Mott wa
ter rights in the Boise river Mr.. Look
wanted to know If this water right had
been purchased and if so, when, and
who put it through and why the trans
action occurred at meeting held be-
hind closed doors. Mr.. Look very
strongly implied that since $4,000 was
available somebody must have secured
it.
The Page 4 Mott water right on the
Boise river above Barberton was pur-
chased by the board of directors sew
eral months ago for 100000 in order
that the water it controls might be d.
verified into the government reservoirs
between the months Of November
and April.
Furor Follows Statement.
The statement by Mr.. Look and the
inquiries he directed created a Juror
and it was several minutes before or
der could be restored for the discus
sion OF the matter. Applause and vol
leys OF questions arising from all parts
of the room made deafcninR noise.
Why did the directors think it neces-
sary to buy more water when the sea-
son OF 1915. the driest on record.
showed that the project could store
more water than needed And why
ha ,aIa se.D,, H..
hind closed doors and never made
pounded from the floor. One enthus-
last offered a motion that Secretary
Lane be telegraphed to withc Id pay
II II had not already been turned over.
In the confusion the motion was not
properly seconded or put to the
house.
Directors on Defense.
One by one the directors were given
opportunity to tell what they knew of
the deal. Director Rankin spoke first,
declaring that he had opposed the
transaction and voted against it. Be-
fore taking his seat he fired hot
shot at some of the government SER
wants. declaring that, contrary to de-
partment rules. ditch riders had been
out gathering proxies in an effort to
secure election to the board of direc-
tors.
Directors Kingston and Oellien
spoke, the former declaring that he
remembered the deal only in a hazy
manner and thought he voted for the
purchase of another right Oellien
was the first to defend the boards
action as one of wisdom.
Director Hubbard. seemingly under
the impression that the attack was