Imperial Valley press., 1919-03-17

Winning a non-partisan and non
sectional support for the project, as
exhibited in the unanimously eX
pressed sentiment of the distin-
guished visitors, Imperial Valley
boosters have succeeded in making
great headway toward the early con-
summation of the plans for the con-
struction of an All-American canal.
At the banquet given at the Bar
bara Worth last evening as a well
come to the members of the Con-
gression Committee on Naval AZ
fairs, ten influential members of the
national House of Representatives,
which comprises the entire official
membership of the party, gave un-
qualified endorsement to the canal
project and pledged their support on
an application for federal aid for its
construction.
After listening to full exposition
of the various problems as applied
to permanent water supply given
by representatives of the Irrigation
District, the congressman. in flowing
terms that would do credit to the
best boosting of a Valley resident
or property owner, gave their assur-
ance of favorable consideration for
the appropriation measure intended
for the extension of government cred
it on this gigantic improvement.
In no uncertain terms, Congress
men Padgett, Oliver, Hicks, Vinson,
Britton, Elston, Lea and Kettner de-
clared that the Imperial Valley, being
new and creative country, was en-
titled to every consideration at the
hands of Uncle Sam.
Here are excerpts from the con-
gressional speeches which placed the
banquet guests in a grateful and en-
thusiastic frame of mind over the fu-
ture prospects Of the Valley:
Chairman Padgett: 81 am not full
ly advised on the local situation. but
! do know that your Valley should
BE Independent and not owe it's very
life and existence to the good will
or good behavior of somebody over
whose existence this government has
no control. There ought to be rem
edy and a solution to this momen-
tously important question. When
first came to your Valley, some
months ago, | found that a mob or
anyone with pick and shovel, in a
few hours could bankrup you for wa
ter. l do not know the details and
do net know how it will be done but
| believe the relief to which you are
justly entitled will be found"
Congressman Kettner: Congress
has appropriated hundreds of mill
lions of dollars for other sections
of the county that were not half as
entitled to it as you are. They were
not making new country; they were
not making two blades of grass grow
where only one did before, while you
are growing dozen where none
ever grew before. AS sample, they
have spent $S,000,000 on Yuma pro-
ject, and only $l,000,000 to save this
Valley, and it was wasted. have
faith in this Valley and in my col
leagues. have been assured by visi-
tors that the Nile is not in it with
Imperial Valley, although England
has spent millions on the Nile, and
the United States has spent such an
sum on you that | am
ashamed to mention it. Conditions
are now changing: our goal is in
sight Through our great friend
Secretary Lane, and visiting delega-
tions from Congress, the government
is giving much attention to you. 1t
is only question of time when the
Colorado river will be placed in a
straight jacket and a settled water
supply will be assured"
Congressman Britton: BILLY Kett-
ner is going to get what ne wants |
in the incoming Congress, although (
it is Republican and he is a Demo
crat, because we know Kettner. You
should ask Mexico for proper pro-
lection of your levees and to remove |
obnoxious customs duties, and at the
same time poke the All-American
canal in their face as club. and then |
if they get gay we will take all of
the Colorado from them. You do not |
want an out-and-out appropriation.
want to borrow some money, and |
in granting your application the gov
ernment will simply be helping it
self.
Congressman Oliver: eve have |
been talking about the billions spent |