Arizona republican., 1922-06-12
JOINT COMMISSION
URGED To CONFER ON
COLORADO CUT OFF

Suggestion that they request Gov.
William d. stephens of California to
appoint a commission of three TO
confer with a similar commission to
be appointed by himself on the mat
ter of Strengthening the Colorado
river channel near Blythe was made
yesterday by Gov. Thomas E. Camp
bell to Ed f. Williams, president,
and p r. Rasmussen, assistant sec
retary of the Palo Verde joint levee
district. Acting on this suggestion.
the CALIFORNIA;. sent telegram to
Governor Stephens asking that he
appoint the commission Immediately
and advise Governor Campbell.
The suggestion OF the governor
was made at conference held yes
terday morning in his office between
Arizona state officials and the two
officials of the California irrigation
district who came to Phoenix for the
purpose of securing permission from
the Arizona state officials to make a
cutoff on the Arizona side of the
Colorado river at Hauser bend in or
der to divert the current of the river
from the break in the levee which
occurred on May Is, flooding the
valley and the town of Riplay. Calf.
Governor Campbell, after Mr.. Will
liams had presented the case of the
Palo Verde joint Ievee district to him,
declared the best he could do at pres
ent would be to suggest the confer
ence between a joint committee. He
advised Mr.. Williams he would act
upon any recommendation that the
commission might make provided
such recommendation did not jeopar-
die the property or the rights OF
Arizona. The Palo Verde delegation
accepted this suggestion as final and
Immediately after the conference sent
a telegram to Governor Stephens re-
questing the appointment of the COM
mittee.
Governor Cambell in his suggestion
stated he was of the opinion the
California commission should be
composed of a representative of the
legal department of the state, one
from the state engineering depart
ment. and one from the department
which has the same function is the
water department of Arizona. He as
sured Mr.. Williams he would appoint
the Arizona commission within five
minutes after he was advised by
Governor Stephens that the Califor-
MIA commission had been appointed
1t is believed that Governor Camp
bell will appoint w. S. Norviel, state
water commissioner; Thomas Mad
dock, state engineer. and w. J. Gal
braith, attorney general. as Arizona's
representatives.
For many years." Governor Camp
bell told the California delegation
california has been the aggressor
in Colorado river matters to the great
disadvantage of Arizona. but now
Arizona is the stronger brother
However, you OF California, may rest
assured that Arizona entertains nc
spirit of retaliation but is going tc
treat you very fair"
In discussing the Swing bills fol
the relief of the Palo Verde valley
situation, introduced in congress BY
Congressman Swing of California
Governor Campbell advised Mr.. Will
liams that congress could do nothing
in the matter without the consent o1
Arizona. The Swing bills provide fol-
an appropriation of $250,000 to be
| used for the purpose of changing the
channel of the river.
1t appears, the governor said. thai
| nothing can be done now to save the
crops in the Palo Verde valley and
| while Arizona realizes fully +t'e dis
aster which has fallen upon the val
| ley. to dynamite in an effort tC
| change the course of the river would
| be only speculative and might cause
even a greater disaster. Mr.. Williams
| agreed that the proposed plan was
purely speculative but added it was
made with a view of being able tc
| close the present break in the levet
and give the farmers of the valley