New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-26

had litigation between Kansas ant
Colorado as to the jurisdiction over
these waters. Whether a state ex,
~ercises absolute sovereignty and u
risdiction over waters flowing through
its territory, or whether jurisdiction
belongs to the state having the orig
in of such waters, or whether or no
the federal government exercises ju-
risdiction and control over such wat
ers, have been questions in dispute.
There is a cloud on the title. 1t is
for this reason that the legislatures
OF the several states | have men,
toned authorized conferences for che
purpose OF agreeing upon and deter
mining the amount of water and the
rights that belong TO each of the
states within this basin. 1t is a far
reaching proposition. 1t involves the
development OF the San Juan river
in this state, where there are pos
sib htieS OF retaining hundreds of
thousands OF acres and providing
homes for many thousands of people
by substituting for arid lands an in
ANAoNiE AdillhdlNd SN0iIOu NdDdDlt Vi
great production. (applause). This
bill has passed the house. One bill
was introduced by myself in the SEN
ate and another was introduced in
the house by Congressman Mondell.
They were identical. The house bill
passed first and upon my motion If
was substituted for the senate bill,
This bill is now law. (applause).
Will Urge Reclamation
| intend TO do all in my power to-
wards promoting reclamation. There
Is a reclamation bill now pending IN
congress known as the McNary bill.
II carries with it two hundred ard
fifty millions. 1t provides for the re-
clamation OF the several arid states
OF the west. Should it become law
New Mexico will be entitled to her
sh"Ie of the appropriation. | sub
mittcd an amendment to this bill for
the purpose of including drainage.
This amendment was accepted by
Senator McNary, who is the original
sponsor OF the measure, | do not ex-
pect this bill Il pass at the special
session OF congress, but | think its
passage will be possible during the
coming regular session. 1t carries
wonderful possibilities for this west
ern country. 1t will insure the in
teligent and systematic handling of
irrigation waters, through storage
systems, canals and bitches, thus
greatly increasing the agricultural
possibilities OF this region, as is clear
ly evidenced by what has been done
under the Elephant Butte project.
Great progress has been made in that
part of our state, where the lands
reclaimed have brought into our
borders many thousands of settlers.
The upper Rio Grande offers even
greater possibilities on account of its
area. With the Rio Grande
valley thus reclaimed from the Colo
RADIO line to Texas a few years may
an increase of many millions
in land values, the building Of thous-
OF homes, the founding of new
and the establishment of the
other enterprises which come
with agricultural development,
The Powdre valley of Colorado is
no larger than this valley, no richer,
no more fertile. Indeed, its waters
not the fertilizing qualities of
he Rio Grande. The Powdre valley
been the market for our lambs
and a great portion of our cattle.
They have sugar factories there.
These sugar factories furnish a sup
DIV OF beet pulp which it utilized in
he fattening of livestock. There is
10 reason why we. should not have
similar conditions within our bound
Our climate is even more fav- {
We can bring about these :
conditions if we will all unite and
ight for them and keep on fighting \
we obtain the passage of bills I
the McNary act. II will enable ]
Is to make a great state out of New S
.ieNico. |
Indian Depreciation Claims !
! have introduced a bill with ref =
renee to Indian depredations. Some !
( our citizens have not been prop /,
rly compensated for property lost y
through the depredations of the hos :
lie Indians during the early days of :
>cw Mexico. Thousands of dollars y
'orth of property, consisting main
= OF sheep, cattle and horses, was
tolen in those days by hostile In {
ians. Many of the claims for reim- :
urSement have not been paid be- T
the law provided that such I
we're not valid except when p
le Indians were officially at war, but b
Unfortunately the Indians now and b
zen raided a helpless town in times 2
I peace, scalping defenseless citizens
nd taking their cattle, their sheep
nd their horses. The government !
ED that since the Indians were not q
gally at war with the government, 2
ut were on a friendly basis, the ;
aims against them were not valid. :,
have introduced a bill to obtain v
for these claimants and their 3
escendarts. for many OF the original W
have gone to the great be- a.
while waitirG for the settle 70
ents of their claims. IL we can
wv obtain relief it may help some
their children or their children's
| intend to do what | can
push tre Passage of this bill.
The Homestead Title Act
| have introduced a bill to settle
e title on Indian reservations; that FIR
with reference to pueblo grants ca
ade by congress. Many of our form
citizens acquired parcels of land
the early days of New Mexico
ID Their descendants have continued
rnte-ruptedly to occupy these lands. =
hey and their fathers and their
fathers have titled them for
pre- than a century and yet their
lc is now challenged by the de-
rtment. ! believe that the courts
ND eventually decide the cases in