Imperial Valley press., 1922-10-30
The Water and POlUer Act
An Analysis
By r. d. McPHERRN

Proposed as the basic law of the state
we vote upon nothing else.
AS every voter will have copy of
the Water and Power Amendment from
the county clerk by the time this ap-
pears, it win be unnecessary to quote
sections Of the amendment except by
number and letter.
Section IL provides for water and
power board of five members, their
method of appointment, salaries, and
method of removal. The governor is
given the power of appointment and
the only qualifications of these mem
bers are that they shall be qualified
electors of the state' and that they
"shall be so appointed as to be fairly
representative of the state geographic
ally, and of its irrigation and munich.
; pal interests
Politics Pure and Simple
This is no mandate to the governor
in any sense. 1t does not describe the
districts of the state which the five
members shall represent. 1t does not
provide in any sense that they shall
know anything whatever in technical
or legal way of the subject they will
be called upon to handle. 1t opens the
door to the appointment of five politi-
cal henchmen. 1t is politics pure and
! simple.
The legislature is referred to in this
| section and is given permission to IN
crease the compensation of the MEM
bers of the board, and
shall have power by a two-thirds vote
of all its members to remove any one
or more of the members Of the board
| from office for dereliction of duty or
| -
In the history Of the state of Cali
fornia no state officer has ever been
| removed by a two-thirds vote of the
whole legislature; although it has been
attempted many times-it is q practi.
cal impossibility.
| The Legislature is also instructed to
provide by law "for the removal of
members by recall' and this lis quail.
fled so that the board can make. sn1-
gestions as to what sort OF 4 IecaQ
it wants passed by the legislature. Inc
language of the proposed amendment
being -
following so far as pertinent the pro-
visions of Article XIII Of the consti-
tuition.
Then follows a real joker:
g" except that a successor of any mem.
Der recalled shall be appointed by the
governor for the unexpired term, as
shall be done In the case of vacancy
otherwise arising
The people are allowed to vote the
amendment into force; but are are not
allowed to exercise the right of APP
pointment to fill vacancy; nor in any
way exercise any jurisdiction whatever
i over the actions Of the board while in
office. If the people desire to remove
the member, they must go through the
costly operation of signing sufficient
petition to place the question of re.
moval on the ballot at the next general
state election, or persuade the Cover.
nor to call a special state election.
Power to Governor
The whole section creates a board
that shall be able to perpetuate itself
in office and be amendable to advice
from the centers of the state. casting
the largest number Of votes. No man.
date whatever can be given to this
board by any power in the state Of
California.
! 1t is not even necessary for the gov.
ernor to fill vacancies, as far as effec-
tive action by the board is concerned,
for the section contains this neat,
simple and sufficient provision;
"no vacancy in the board shall impair
the right of thesremaining members to
exercise all powers of the board