The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1919-07-30
MORE CALIFORNIA PIFfLE
ON LAKE TAHOE SUBJECT
Californians Say Secretary Lane Is
Committed to n Policy of Procrast-
ination In the Tahoe Matter

correspondent, Is interesting Decduse
it gives the California viewpoint re-
garding the Lake Tahoe matter:
so impressed was Secretary Lane
with the presentations made by the
California delegation on the Tahoe
lake question at the hearing that he
gave positive assurance that nothing
further would be done until suit
which he will institute will be de-
termined. The outcome of the hear
ing all members of the delegation
representing the State and property
owners regard as distinctly favor
able.
1.-The delegation 1t was evident
met officials who seemed hostile and
there were indications that the In
terror Department had reached a
conclusion in advance to permit
power and reclamation companies to
enter upon the work against which
the delegation was here to protest.
"R. W. Harrison. chief deputy OF
ed the sovereignty of California and
asserted that neither the United
States nor any other authority had
the right to infringe upon that right.
This sovereignty of the state, he said,
was defined by the Constitution and
Congress and upheld by the Supreme
Court in decisions that land under
the waters of d navigable lake. in
cluding the rim which those inter
ested are now seeking power to cut
away. belonged TO the State. The
Federal Government. he said, had no
right to interfere with the sovereign
power of the State in this respect,
Court decisions were quoted to sup-
port this argument and It complete
ly shattered, for the time being at
least. plans that had been laid to
proceed with the destruction of Ia
hoe lake.
Secretary Lane. after listening
to these arguments. said he would
at once call off all suggestions for
immediate work at Lake Tahoe and
would consult with Attorney-General
n4i.-. i.-.a-----osa-sllS- - procaadins-tn IN
which the United States and the
states of California and Nevada
would be parties. Harrison speak
ing for California, said the State
would welcome such suit.
Secretary Lane added that II this
proceeding was decided In favor OF
the Federal Government, condemna-
tion proceedings would be brought
against property owners abutting
tina lake. Such a proceeding would
compensate owners for Losses in-
Cured.
1.-THE suit suggested by Secretary
Lane, being between the Federal
Government and states, can only be
brought in the Supreme Court, SC
the initial move cannot be made for
a considerable time.
"All members of the delegation
protested against any tampering
with the natural conditions of the
lake and against any proposal to
lower It's level, Representatives OF
property owners said that all they |
asked was to be left alone in the en-
joyment of their rights. They asked |
nothing from the Government.
IAN interesting phase Of the hear
ing was the development that the as
sistant to Lane, John w. Hallowell,
was, until June 10, 1918, partner
in the firm of Stone q Webster OF
Boston. This is the firm that form
er CONGRESSMAN Kent charged with
having obtained improper conces-
siops from the Government. The
discussion became heated when grant
to the power company was under
consideration. Attorney Green asked
Hallowell If this grant to the power
company was obtained while he
(Hallowell) was member OF the
firm of Stone & Webster, and Halo
we'll replied that he was a member
of the firm Of Stone & Webster, and
Hallowell replied that he was mem
ber of the firm at that time.
"Since becoming an official OF the
Interior Department, Halloweli, II
would seem, has been in charge of
many phases of the Truckee project.
When the California delegation
made its hrst visit to the department
II was referred to Hallowell by Sec
retary Lans, who said Hallowell had
the matter In charge. Correspond
ence with the department leading up
to this visit, 1t is understood, also
indicates correctness of this state
ment.
"The War Department had repre-
sentatives present in person OF Major
Weber, who listened attentatively
to protests of the California delega-
tion.
Senators Pittman and Henderson
of Nevada, Representative Baker OF
California and a representative OF
Senator Johnson and also of the
Chamber of Commerce of San Fran
cisco attended the hearing"