Arizona republican., 1921-06-02
HOUSE BILL 83 |S NEEDED ACT
 II |S EXPLAINED

With the circulation of petitions against the holding of special cleo tion next fall, and with movement on foot to checkmate the opposition through injunction proceedings, a de- termined fight is on over House Bill This is the bill passed by the last Legislature which provides for sub hitting to the people at a special election to be held November a constitutional amendment, which if adopted, would allow the state to loan It's credit to promote and assist in the reclamation of arable and irri- sable lands lying within irrigation districts of the state.
 Petitions against the measure are being largely signed, particularly by those who are opposed to the extra expense entailed by special election. Their efforts. however. may count for naught for the legal point has been raised as to whether a referendum petition against a bill which already has been referred to the people will stand the test. The indications are that the matter will be taken into the courts at an early date
 Answering arguments which were set forth at recent meeting of the Farmers Protective association, c. c. Lewis. Of the state water commits sioner's office, has prepared state ment which combines a comprehen- sfye analysis of the measure with strong arguments in its favor. The statement follows:
 (By c. c. Lewis)
 "The argument of the opposition to II. B. S3 is far fetched, is not fair to the bill and Is unsound in principle. 1,f go burden of the state as set forth by the opposition. There is a vast diff ference between the state spending money direct for Improvements, which naturally increases taxes, and indirectly assisting in the stabilizing and upbuilding of an industry that Will add taxable wealth to the state and thereby reduce the tax burden of fie state generally
 As an illustratioli, we are spending lnrge sums of money for the building cf good roads. which is a direct tax which the entire state must bear, in the way of improvements, and for which the state gets nothing direct in return except the pleasure and convenience in the use of said roads, with the added saving in costs of Transporting the products of the farm to the market.
 ~H- B. 83 authorizes the state to aid Indirectly in the matter of developing f11e agricultural sections of the state, each section so developed paying the entire cost of it's project, without the state at large contributing a single dollar. On the other hand. the state profits in the increased taxable wealth, thereby reducing the tax bur- den of the state generally
 '*The opposition argues that should a project fail, the state will have to bear the burden Of the cost of the project With the safeguards in H. D. 139, companion bin to H. B. 83. there is little chance that a project without merit could receive the ap- nroyal of the state. as s-the state water . commission shall make an investiga- ton of the water resources, state lanc department shall investigate the nature of the lands. state engineer shall investigate the feasibility O1 nlans and specifications attorney general shall examine into the legali- lty and validity of the district. The governor shall select one or more dis interested engineers to act in con, junction with the state engineer which engineer or engineers shall b' skilled and experienced in irrigation and construction of irrigation works the compensation of said engineers t be paid by the district; also the stat receives one per cent on alr bonds is sued with which to defray expense for investigations, cost and expens of the preparation and issuance ( bonds; hence the state pays nothin;
 "Supposing the state did have come to the rescue, temporarily. of certain irrigation project in meetir it's assessments, this could not occl for several years, as under any Dor issue. payments will not begin for
 reasonable time after the district
 in operation. Also the state at 2 times has this completed project ; security--and can there possibly be safer, more substantial security to t state? No. And the greatest pess mist must admit this.
 'The moneys froms' sale of SUI
 bonds shall be deposited with t state treasurer and drawn out up,
 warrants issued by said irrigati
 district when certified by state e
 gineer and state water. commissions
 all such moneys to be used only f
 payment of costs and charges of SUI
 construction.
 Proclamation and good roads
 hand in hand in this state. and if
 are to continue building good roa
 we must develop necessarily son
 thing substantial and permanent Il