Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-22

| Try. VI course we all appreciat
the obligations OF the nation to tn
| disabled soldiers. They must b
taken care of first. They have tn
first lien on this country. Whethe
it takes $500, 000,0 600 or $4,000,
100000, or takes the shirt off tn
back of every citizen. the disabled
veterans must be taken care of
(Applause.)
l introduced a bill to retire dis
abled emergency officers whef
| having a disability of 80 per cen
permanent on the same basis a,
| the regular army officers. 1t an,
pealed to me as being the Just anc
right thing to do. that a volunteer
or emergency officer. or an officer
from the national guards, who
commanded his division, regiment
or company, whatever it may be-
side by side with the regular army
officer, who met the same dangers
who rendered the same efficient
service, who directed his forces so
as to bring victory, and who suf-
fered the loss of an arm or leg, or
in some other way became dis
abled, ought to be given the same
treatment that we give to the Of
ticer OF the regular army. This
bill has been reported favorably by
the committee on military affairs.
1t is on the calendar. 1 expect to
take it up in October. / believe 1t
will pass. (Applause.)
Colorado Basin Water Rights.
/ introduced a bill with reference
to settling the water rights in the
Colorado basin and its tributaries.
The Colorado basin includes the
states of California, New Mexico,
Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. The
title to the waters has been mat
ter of controversy for several
years. We have had litigation be-
tween Kansas and Colorado as to
the jurisdiction over these waters.
Whether state exercises absolute
sovereignty and jurisdiction over
waters flowing through it territory,
Or whether jurisdiction belongs to
he state having the origin of such
waters, or whether Or not the fed
eral government exercises jurisdic-
ion and control over such waters,
nave been questions in dispute.
There is a cloud on the title. 1t |
$ for this reason that the legisla- |
ures of the several states l have |
mentioned authorized conferences
or the purpose of agreeing upon |
md determining the amount of !
water and the rights that belong to |
ach Of the states within this basin.
t is a far-reaching proposition. 1t
involves the development of the
IAN Juan river in this state. where
here are possibilities of reclaim
ng hundreds Of thousands of acres
nd providing homes for many
Eousands of people by substituting
or arid lands an intensely culti-
ated section capable of great pro-
uction. (Applause.) This bill
las passed the house. One bill
vas introduced by myself in the
enate and another was introduced
4 the house by Congressman Mon
ell. They were identical. The
ouse bill passed first and upon
ny motion it was substituted for
he senate bill. This bill Is now
aw. (Applause.)
viii Urge Reclamation.
/ intend to do all in my power
Owards promoting reclamation.
here is a reclamation bill now
in congress known as the
IcNary bill. 1t carries with it two
undred and fifty millions. 1t pro-
ides for the reclamation of the
everal arid states of the west.
hould it become law New Mex
60 will be entitled to her share
( the appropriation. / submitted
n amendment to this bill for the
urpose of including drainage.
his amendment was accepted by
onator McNary, who is the origi-
al sponsor of the measure. do
OF expect this bill to pass at the
pecial session of congress, but l
link its. passage will be possible
uring the coming regular session.
. carries wonderful possibilities
Or this western country. 1t will
lsure the intelligent and system
tic handling of irrigation waters
trough storage systems, canals
nd bitches, thus greatly increas-
W the agricultural possibilities of
lis region, as 1t is clearly evil
enced by what has been done I'M
er the Elephant Butte project.
reat progress has been made in
lat part of our state, where the
.nds reclaimed have brought into
ur borders many thousands of
sttlers.
The upper Rio Grande offers
ven greater possibilities on ac-
punt of it's larger area. With the
10 Grande valley thus reclaimed
ON the Colorado line to Texas a
w years may witness an increase
I many millions in land values,
le building of thousands of
ONES, the founding of new cities
nd the establishment of various
her enterprises which come with
development. 4
The Poudre valley of Colorado is !
, larger than this valley, no rich
:, no more fertile. Indeed its ,
aters have not the fertilizing G
lahties of the Rio Grande. The a
oudre valley has been the mar {
IT for our lambs and great por- {
on of our cattle. They have SUI ,
lr factories there. These sugar
ctories furnish a supply Of beet 7
lip which is utilized in the fatten- i
q of livestock. There Is no reas- h
i why we should not have SINH
r conditions within our bound s
les. Our climate is even more /
vorable. We can bring about 9
ese conditions If We will all a
lite and fight for them and keep t
/ fighting until we obtain the '
usage of bills like the McNary !
t. 1t will enable us to make v
eat state out of New Mexico. +
Indian Depreciation Claims. r
I have produced a bill with ref v
ence to Indian depredations. +
me of our citizens have not been
operly compensated for property I
st through the depredations of I
g hostile Indians during the ear
days of New Mexico. Thousands I
dollars worth Of property. con- /