Imperial Valley press., 1922-07-08
UNITED ACTION ON
DAM IMPERATIVE
HEALD DECLARES

reSentat1VeS sent to washington TO
keep an eye on the Boulder dam and
All-American canal projects has left
the national capital and is on his way
home.
Elmer w. Heald, representing the
American Legion, remained on the job
as long as there was anything to be
done. Congress has adjourned and con
sideration of the matter now goes over
until fall. Mr.. Head gives the Press
the following estimate of what has been
done and what remains to be done.
At the last hearing the enemies OF
the bill showed up in the form of Sen
ators Phipps and Nicholson and Con
gresham Vale all Of Colorado and two
representatives from the states of Ida.
no, Oregon and Washington for the
League Of the Northwest. These last
named gentlemen are working for the
Smith McNary bill and have establish
ed permanent office in Washington
for the purpose of conducting an organ
lied campaign.
Colorado people openly opposed the
Swing bill, stating that it interfered
with the rights of the upper states, that
| the power provisions were unsOund and
tended to give cities of Southern Cal
ifornia monopoly, that this would be
in direct competition with the Nevada
California Power corporation of which,
Senator Phipps is the secretary and
treasurer, and that nothing should be
done towards the passage of the Swing
bill until after the meeting of the Col
orado River commission in August.
Thay, do cboIyinU hpfOrn
| the committee and it was very apparent
that they were there in the interests OF
private power interests.
Congressman Vale made the unqual-
flied statement that Colorado demand
ed and would fight for the right to
divert all the water she desired from
the basin, in fact he went so far as to
say, in answer to a question of Judge
J Swing, that Colorado would solve our
flood question by diverting the water
out of the basin so that it would no
longer flow down into the lower valleys.
| Colorado Claims All Water
| He also stated that Colorado was in
no way responsible for damage done by
| the waters of the Colorado in the lower
basin. On the other hand he argued
openly before the committee that Col
rOado claimed all the water that fell on
the soil of that state, and demanded
| that nothing further be done about the
Swing bin until after December, 1922.
This the committee, refused to con.
slider, but did say that no further action
would be taken until after the recess
of congress, which will make the next
meeting of the committee about Sep
tember Is, 1922.
Arizona has started an active cam
paign against our bill and will make
every effort to stop it in committee.
The Washington and Oregon delegation
are afraid the Swing bill will interfere
with the Smith McNary bill aud they
are opposing action at this time.
We have had very successful hear
ings. Fall s report endorsed the whole
project without reservation. Hoover
made wonderful statement before the
committee and the Southern California
delegation made very strong impress
ion.
Power Contracts Solve Financing
The fact that people were there rep
resenting organizations ready to sign
contracts to purchase the power solved
the financial problems which were caus-
ing the members of the committee
much concern. We have made won
derful start, we have taken the first
step towards the passage of the bill,
but the thing that the people of I'M
perial valley must understand is that
the real fight has only commenced. We
simply must stay on the job. We must
perfect our organization and he pre-
pared to come back here when recess is
over and force action on our bill. II
means so much to Imperial valley that
it will be worth the time, money and
effort.
The picture has been shown twice
and created very favorable impress.
ion. sincerely believe that great good
could be done by showing the picture
in manufacturing districts of the East
and Middle West.
Nickerson Clinches Argument
] am not trying to discourage, but
simply state plain facts, telling the
people Of the valley the real situation
as it exists here. This thing is going
to be long hard fight to get what we