Imperial Valley press., 1919-05-22
IRON OVER
;ONTEEN[)|NG
QUESTIONS
ON WATER
County Farm Bureau Urges
aCOnference Between Dis
trict and Committee on
Irrigation Problem.

Realization that the Valley must
present solid and united front in
it's coming effort to secure the i'm
mediate legislative and financial aid
of Congress in reaching ssolution
of the local irrigation problem, the
Imperial County Farm Bureau has
made an important suggestion to the
board of directors of the District.
In a letter conferring the honor
of Farm Bureau representative on
Mike Liebert, former president, the
Farm Bureau, speaking through B
ID. Irvine, its present executive, asks
for conference between the Irriga-
ton District directors and the mem
bers of the special committee before
the latter leave for Washington.
The suggestion has met with favor
from individual members Of the
boards directorate and it is likely the
ences in policy and procedure will be
tee boards the train for the east.
The plan of the Farm Bureau is
explained in the following letter:
"The County Farm Bureau, being
vitality interested in all questions
which affect it's membership and the
county as a whole, feels with you that
this general committee will effective
prosecute it's tasks and achieve a sue
cess which will lead to the early and
satisfactory settlement, on a perma-
nent basis, of our water affairs.
at is obvious that the general COM
mittee, in presenting its views to
official Washington, must present a
solid front. Otherwise the commit
tee will fail. In this suggestion, we
wish to make so bold as to offer a
suggestion:
"That the general committee, prior
to it's departure, hold a conference
Of all of it's members, canvass the
views and opinions of it's members,
and learn now if differences of view
point exist; endeavor to formulate a
policy for the entire committee, and,
at the end of the conference, make a
statement to the water users of the
valley, outlining the policy adopted,
which will be signed by all members.
ut seems essential that such con-
ference be held before departure and
statement showing that all men,
bers of the committee are in concord
on the larger points of policy would
enhance the public confidence now
felt in the general committee.
with assurance of our continued
support in all matters looking to-
ward the betterment of our irriga-
tion system, we remain,
"Yours very trulv.
IMPERIAL COUNTY FARM BU-
REAU.
By B. D. IRVINE,
president"
The Farm Bureau is also respon-
sible for another idea which has met
with some favor. To insure the
frankest and fullest publicity between
Washington and the Valley during
the negotiations over the bill, the bu-
reau suggests the appointment of a
secretary to the committee.
The duties of this secretary will be
to assist the committee members in
every way possible: to take the min
utes of all committee sessions; to re-
port back the progress made to the
people, and in turn to transmit to
Washington all local maeral of value
in the campaign to educate Congress
in the matter.
The ranchers' organization has sug-
gested to the Irrigation District board
the name of Don C. Bitler, former
development agent and now assistant
district attorney, for this important
post, and his appointment is being Sc
riously considered. The name of Ar
thur M. Nelson, present development
agent, has also been put forth.
Major w. T. Leeds, government en-
gineer, arrived here last evening and
today was in conference with Super
Yntendent Cronholm and other Off
cials of the River division over the
weir situation. :.
The form of the special act which
the Vallev will seek the sanction of
Congress for the underwriting of the
District bonds for the construction OF
the All-American canal project, fol-
lows:
Instructions have been telegraphed
Phil d. Swing, attorney for the I'M
perial Irrigation District, now at
Washington, to refrain from causing
to be introduced the bill by which
the Irrigation District bonds would
be underwritten by the government
Action on this and further bills will
await the arrival Of the committee
from the valley. This committees
will leave at the earliest possible mo-