The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-14

n yfIEN be returned from Washington 70 accept the unauimous
" senator Bnrsum made a speech 81 acceptance IL which he IN
eleaed a brief recital af what he had actually accomplished and
senate II was q modest, dgpaed and very conservative outline Of
highly creahahIe record. Il included the statement that he had in
trodrsed aud helped 70 pass an act giving congressional approval to
q hnai arbitration q The division among the states concerned Of the
waters 81 the Colorado river watershed
The accomplishment Of such a final adjustment Of these water
This state are some 100000 acres of irripable land The water is avail
able Before that land can be reclaimed the Colorado river water
rights must be finally sdjndicated. When that is done the rcelama-
sin win proceed. In anticipation Of that final adjustment. made pos.
sabie under the act Bursmp introduced and helped 10 pass, land values
ii San Juan county have begun 10 advance. AT icas, onc Pacific
coast syndicate is seeking to obtain land to the value of two and one
This San Juan county reclamation, when accomplished, will make
San Juan county the richest county in the state. II will add a fifth
Immediately after senator Bursnm 5 brief and modest reference
eiaraeterishe venom and sniruth. charged that Bursum had claimed
credit Tor originating the whole plan Of adjudcai:oni that he had had
to credit for an achievement in which he had no part. The general
Inference was that the whole matter Of this adjudication and It's sane
value 70 this state. marniaed by Bursum for campaign purposes.
stephen B. Davis, Jr- of Las Vegas, has been interested for years
IN various phases OF this water rights controversy. lie is probably the
best informed man in the state regarding its whole history lie is a
proposed to consider The adjudication plan, he participated 5 the
representative Of Governor Mechem- lie accompanied the seven gov
srnors TO Washington. Here is what Mr.. Davis said about this mat.
fer and Bursum $ part in IL in a letter published in Tuesday S Herald
I" ! have no doubt that the idea Of this plan originated
with Senator DELPHI Il. Carpenter of Greeley, Colorado, one
Of the foremost irrigation lawyers in the United States, and
, To n has ,hs s, s,a,s very r. d Psor,1en, snS b ss , asvs,I : Ias%iu OF n ,sr,s "a
the litigation, interstate and otherwise, which has grown out
OF II. The governors OF the seven states Interested met IN
Denver in May Of this year a meeting which attended with
Governor Mechem. This conference was called by Governor
Campbell Of Arizona, and one of its results was the drawing
Of a bill providing for the consent Of congress to this inter
state compact. and the decision of the governors to go to
Washington and urge upon congress and the president the
adoption Of this measure. | went to Washington in this con
ncrtion as the representative of Governor Mechem.
After calling upon the president and obtaining his APP
psoval. the question arose as TO the best man to introduce the
Obviously II should be introduced by a senator or repre-
sentative from one Of the states interested and one of the first
things done by the governors was TO consult with the mem
hers from their respective states regarding this feature. As
a result Of the discussion, it was concluded that Senator
been but a very short time in office, the governors found that
he had already made a wide acquaintance in the senate, stood
extremely well with the other members and that his energy,
familiarity with western conditions and earnestness in work
ing for any matter in which the west was interested made
him the ideal selection. The matter was therefore taken up
with him
as willing to take charge of the matter and endeavor 10 push
the bill to passage. He did introduce the bin ON the follow
* similar bill was introduced in the house by Repre-
NTbe house bill differed from the senate bill in certain
respects. particularly as to the authority Of the representative
Of the United States who was to sit with the state commits
Both Of these bills were referred to the department of
the interior and acted upon by Secretary Fall, who recon
mended the adoption Of the house bill Hearings were had be-
fore the various committees and there was considerable cores
pondenee regarding it between Senator Bursum, senator Car
penter and myself 1t was finally agreed to take the form Of
the bill introduced by Representative Mondell and approved
by Secretary Fall, instead of the one which had been pre-
pared by the governors and introduced by Senator Bursum.
made a report from the committee on irrigation and reelama-
ton Of which he was a member, recommending the amend
ment Of his bill so as 10 conform with the house bill and thai
a. so amended the bill should pass The result was the pass.
age of the bill through both houses OF congress and lis APP
proval by the president without further opposition
+Of course no one, and Senator Bursum least Of all,
would claim that the credit for the passage Of this legislation
rests entirely with him. Secretary Fall, Senator Jones, Rep
resentative Mondel, and others. lent their aid to its passage.
u is, however, true that at the request Of the governors, Sen
afor Bursum introduced the original bill, was in charge Of the
measure. took an active interest in lis consideration, and was
the moving force behind its adoption
What Mr. Davis states is all that Senator Rursum has slaimed a.
his share in this important matter. Il is reviewed here, and the attach
for which IL has furnished the basis is referred 10 simply To llustrat,
The character of the campaign that is being made against Senator
f,urenm by Mr.. Iiahnas campaign management.
II Is typieal Of the reckless Effort 10 flch votes from Bursum
majority, regardless of the methods used.
senator Jones, now stunping New Mexico In Mr.. Hanna 3 behalf