White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-08
HARK FROM
THE TOMBS

~8AAtA1 A&O.31 80
undertaken whom the republicans of
Nevada appropriately selected to con-
duct their 1929 campaign, is running
true TO professional form by reaching
into the crypts of political oblivion
for orators and arguments.
There is Sam Arentz, latest TO be
laid with the late-lamented. Sam
spoke in Tonopah the other night,
claiming post-mortem credit for a
fish ladder on the Pyramid Indian
reservation.
There is Ed Roberts, who was po-
litieally laid away some four years
ago when his vaulting ambition GER
spread itself, as did that of Arentz,
and he tried to Jump from the house
into the senate.
And there is Bill Kearney, former
state engineer, who went under the
political daisies with Ed when he
tried for the republican nomination
for governor.
Sam and Ed and Bill, three birds
of the same sepulchral feather, bid
den from political slumber by Silas
Ross, to sit on the 1922 campaign
fence and croak Economy, Econo-
my, Economy"
Such IS the dismal refrain of their
throaty threnody, chanted with the
dreary iteration of their brother pes
simist. Mr.. Poe's Misunderstanding
raven.
To Bill, however, Silas has assigned
the solo role in his gloom-cantata,
Bills business is to criticise his suc-
cessor in the Office of the state en-
democratic nominee for the governor
ship. The burden of his croak is
that Scrugham spent more money
than he did-only that and nothing
more.
Well, then. what did Bill Kcarney
do when he was state engineer?
Nothing at all. That is, almost
nothing. except to produce violent an
tagonisms against his office.
What has Jim Scrugham done as
state engineer
He has healed the antagonisms
created by his predecessor between
contiguous irrigation districts. He
has organized cooperative water-us-
ers' associations in all districts. He
has taken and recorded testimony and
measurements and has made many
thousands of decisions on water
| rights, which are almost universally
accepted as just and fair.
- Lea 49,. D AaA h..
involving water rights-applications
and proofs of appropriation-not act.
ed upon. due entirely to his insfi-
cheney and laundering lack of tao.
One of Kearney's charges-coming
from him with peculiar shameless
ness-is that his successor has tray
eled too much. 1t has been necessary
for Engineer Scrugham to conduct al
most daily hearings and ~investiga-
tions, and to travel half the night.
for months at a time, in order TO clear
up the volume of unfinished business
left in a sorry tangle by his prede-
cessor, Engineer" Kearney.
Here are a few major details OF
kearney muddling: He failed utter
ly to accomplish any beneficial re-
suits on the Humboldt river or on
water adjudications in other districts.
He stupidity a~ntagonized numerous
water users. making them hostile Ia
the state engineers office. This
brought deadlocks In later procedure
toward adjudication. He spent large
sums-all the Legislature would give
him-without results other than nm
happy homes. He granted permits &c
favored individuals or organizations,
skipping over prior applications 70
do it. His attitude and conduct, as
an attorney since he was relieved of
the Office. have constituted an attempt
to block adjudieations and settle
ments of water rights through knowl-
edge of technicalities gained while
state engineer. In cases wherein he
has appeared as attorney. since ceas-
ing to be state engineer, he has never
offered a single constructive sngges-
ton. but has endeavored in every
way 10 embroil his clients In expen-
siye and endless iitigation-to his
own benefit as a fee-charger.
Silas Ross should ring down the
curtain on his gloom-birds and ring
1t up on a new act-say a minstrel
show, with himself, wearing his white
gloves, as interlocutor and the fol
lowing questions to start the show:
Now, Brother Sam. will you tell
me whatever put it into your head
that you should run for the senate?'
Brother Ed. do you really believe
that Brother Grant Miller, on your
right, is sincere in not being a social
list at the present time9"
Brother Bill, you are an expert on
economy. viii you please tell US low
much Mineral county'e expenses In
creased while Brother Johnny Miller,
| on your left, was running things?