Arizona republican., 1922-03-18
HEARING
WILL BE RESUMED At
Los ANGELES MONDAY
Secretary Thanks People of Phoenix For Re-
ception Accorded Commission and Sugges-
tions. That Will Help SolUe Problems OF
Seven States; Visit Boulder Dnnlsite Today

OeUen OtQtCS; VISIL e
Phoenix hearings on problems en-
tering into development of the Colo
RADIO river were concluded at noon
yesterday by members of the Colo
rado river commission charged with
the task of effecting an inter- state
agreement concerning ALLEGATION OF
rights accruing from such develop
ment. Secretary OF Commerce Her
bert Hoover, chairman of the COM
mission, and member commissioners,
left last night for the Boulder Can
yon damsite, by way of Las Vegas,
Nevada. The party will visit the I'M
perial valley Sunday, proceeding TO
Los Angeles Monday where hearings
are to be resumed Monday afternoon.
THE mass OF evidence placed be-
fore this commission at these Phoe-
nix hearings will materially aid us in
the final determination OF our prob
lem" Secretary Hoover declared in
response TO an appreciation of the
commissions efforts here, voiced by
Dwight r. Heard who was called on
for a few words by Commissioner
Norviel just before the close Of the
hearing and said
we OF Arizona want to thank you
and the commission for having held
this vitally important hearing here
in the southwest, in the center Of this
valley which is an illustration of
what cooperation can accomplish.
Replying, Secretary Hoover thanked
the people OF Phoenix for the fine re-
ception accorded the commission and
for the many illuminating sugges-
tons go ably presented.
1--WE have approached this great
task with perfectly open minds ana
I know that each member OF this
commission is possessed with the
MAGNITUDE of the engineering and
legal points involved in the deter
mination of an issue so vitally inn
portant TO the seven states of the
Colorado river basin" Chairman
Hoover said.
Delegates Part in Harmony
The closing moments Of the hear
ing were in marked contrast TO the
hours which has preceded. There
was a spirit OF brotherliness manifest
between members of the commission
and the men who had appeared be-
fore them: between the witnesses OF
the different states here TO fight for
their state rights as they saw them.
witnesses from California con-
closing session and they emphasized
the necessity Of a dam as soon as
possible to "forestall the possible dis
astrous results of an overflow likely
to flood the Imperial and Yuma val
leys."
Few new thoughts were placed be-
fore the commission in its final
meeting. Witnesses were agreed that
some sort of a litigation holiday
should be entered into by the basin
states that construction OF the
Boulder Canyon dam can be had
without delay"
I.ucius X. Chase, legal representa-
tive of the Los Angeles chamber OF
commerce. suggested that a board OF
three or five engineers, to be ap-
pointed by the president. be vested
with the power of water ALLEGATIONS
in event of a drought pending final
disposition of water rights. lie add
ed that it even might be possible TO
vest in this board power to tlnaliy
| decide rights OF states TO develop
ment benefits as they arose. CUES
| toned by Chairman Hoover concern :
I ing the finality of action by such a
/ hoard. Mr.. Chase declared that ap-
! peal therefrom might be made to the
| United States supreme court "but
| never TO the state legislatures.
| Members OF the commission from
| the upper states were assigned the
| burden of formulating what in their
| opinion. would be an equitable
| treaty for the ALLEGATION OF rights
accruing from river development,
| by John F'redericlSs, president or the
| Los Angeles chamber of commerce..
| Throughout the three-da session
here. commissioners from Wyoming,
Colorado and Utah had endeavored
| TO fix the burden of drafting such 2
proposal upon representatives from
! states OF the lower reaches These
representatives. in their testimony
| had presented their views and ideas
| concerning a ."20-y year litigation non.
day." When these overtures failed
approval of the northern commls,
| sioners, Mr.. F'redericks suggeste9I =
that they present what you 1eel
| would satisfy your interests an. auo
what YOU would have us do so tha'
v,e wonld not get any undue advan-
! taRe of YOU and then we VIII PROP
| ably agree TO your terms
MeGrsaor Presents Plans
The first witness of the morning
| session was A. G. McGregor of War
! rem an engineer who presented his
plans for development OF the Colo
rado at the opening hearing We'd
/ nesday afternoon. He desired to be
heard. he told the commission. TO
| correct a mistaken idea or impress
sion as TO the policies Of his plan
Many had been lead to believe, he
said, that his plan gave power rights
| over reclamation in the ALLEGATION OF
benefits. What he had intended to
say. he added was that power was
! necessary for irrigation purposes and
that the use of cheap power would
add more irrigable land in Arizona
and California than all possible di-
versions. Power, therefore was the
vital consideration, he concluded.
Charles NJ Roberts, state senator
from Sulphur Springs valley, told the
commission that he could see no par
ticular reason why states OF the
! lower reaches should feel apprehen-
sion concerning impairment Of their
rights by the upper states. Seepage
| and new springs, frequently devel e.
opend through irrigation, oftimes Will