Tombstone epitaph., 1922-04-02
UNSUCCESSFUL IN sEARcH
 FOR SASS or PACT

0oAND JUNCIiON. NOiO-, maICu 2s.-The Colorado river commission spent today hearing witnesses from the western slope outline the water needs of this section of Colorado. Every witness who testified was ques. toned at length by the commissioners in an apparent effort to secure a statement as to the form of pact that would be satisfactory, but no much progress along his line was made.
 q do not see the situation altered one way or the other," was the re- ply of Herbert Hoover. chairman of the commission, to a question as to whether he considered today's hear ing had brought out anything to make the outlook for an agreement more favorable.
 State Senator J. J. Tobin of Mont rose, who has been interested in ir- rigation development in the district for many years, occupied the witness stand a large portion of the afternoon session. He outlined the irrigation situation in this district from the be- ginning of the building of private canals to the present time, and was questioned at length by the commis- sion.
 During the last 2i years, Tobin es- timated that the legislature of Colo rado had appropriated s5o0,000 for a defense fund to protect its waters. Senator Tobin declared long term of public education would be neces. sary before it would be possible to get the legislature of this state to pass any act that only allows Cobra do certain amount of water. Under the constitution Tobin continued. the water belongs to the state of Colorado. The more water that is stored in the higher lands, the better will be the water rights of other states. The more water you put on land, the more that is stored. the more continuous flow the river will have. There is no doubt there always will be ample water for everyone on the lower levels"
 Tobin pointed out the great empire of western Colorado produced crops as fine as those of any other section of the country.
 The mill never grinds with the water that is past quoted the senai tor. @
 If it don't interfere with the devel- opment of the states at the head of the stream" witness replied.
 Emerson pointed out that it was de sirable that a pact be written not only guaranteeing the lower basin ample iwater, but also that the states in the ,horthern section should have a defin- ite statement as to what amount of
 water should be allocated to their use, based on an estimate of the needs
 for future years.
 Commissioner Norveil asked Tobin if we can enter an agreement where by neither of us has any advantage?'
 'T doubt that you'd ever get the ) legislature of Colorado to accept any proposal unless you had conclusive proof that the people of Colorado } would not be interferred with in the development of all irrigation that
 they desired to develop" Tobin re , piled.
 Then you Coloradoans are not . sportsmen; you are not willing tt ] take an even chance" Norveil sug } sested.
 , 'T did not say that" Tobin replied : The state line has been our fortress
 for 24 years'
 Governor Mechem asked the wit
 ness if he would agree to accept l; pact that gave Colorado the right |,
 water ito the utmost extent of you possibility" The witness said sop, r sort of similar agreement might b' . reached.
 !, But you won't specifically sgre' [ to the amount of land or the amoun iof water that csuld be uscd for cul
 tivafion- MecAsm asked.
 "No," replied the witness.
 Tobin said if title not run ssains the upper states. he would be agree able to attaching water title. to lam