The border vidette., 1923-05-19
ARIZONA FIRST.
Conference Endorses State Control of
Colorado River.

Phoenix, Maya police of
state control and eventual state
ownership of all power projects
developed on the Colorado river
in Arizona was endorsed by more
than 80 Arizona men who were
attending, at the invitation of
Governor George w. P. Hunt, a
conference called for the formu.
lation of an Arizona plan" in
regard to the Colorado river
situation.
The conference, which conven.
ed yesterday morning, adjourn
ed this afternoon after making
its recommendations and later in
the day a sub committee of nine
members appointed by Governor
Hunt to work out details of a
developme 1T plan, held it's or.
ganization meeting.
The sub committee, it was an
nounced, expects to hold meet.
ings over lengthy period and
report back its findings to a
future meeting of the entire con
ference which perfected a per
manent organization before it's
adjournment.
The sub committee is empow
cred to consider all phases of
the river problem but two plans
involving state control aud own.
ership are expected to form the
basis Of its deliberations. One
of these plans proposes con
struction of power projects by
the state by means of bond is
sues. The other, proposes priv
ate construction with the state
reserving the right to purchase
the projects at future date.
The question of ratification of
the Colorado river compact was
thrust to the background during
today's session of the conference
and no recommendation was
made in connection with that
phase of the problem, which will,
however, come before the sub.
committee of nine.
The compact, already ratified
by the six other states of the
Colorado river basin, was defeat
ed in both houses during the re
gular session of the sixth Ari
zona legislature.
It's opponents based their fight
principally on the claim that
Arizona's power interests would
not be adequately protected IN.
der the compact as drafted at
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Of the nine members of the
committee appointed by Cover
nor Hunt, four are members of
the sixth legislature who voted
against unqualified ratification
of the compact and favored
power royalty interpretations or
reservations;one other has open.
ly stated his disapproval of the
compact; two are regarded as
favorable to ratification as
basis for any plan evolved while
two have not previously taken
any active part in the compact
discussions.
Governor Hunt will act as ex.
officio chairman of the com
mittee.
Only two members of the con.
ference cast negative votes on
the resolution endorsing state
control and ownership. Thomas
Maddox, former state engineer,
expressed the opinion that Ari.
zona could not develop the river
as proposed without the co oper.
alton of neighboring states. Tom
Donelly, of Tucson, also voted
against the resolution.
A similar statement was made
by Congressman Carl Hayden
who, in a short address at the
close of the conference, said:
Il realize that what I say is
not what you want to hear, but
though I shall cooperate and
give every assistance possible in
helping in the new plan, I feel
that it is my duty to state what
I believe to be fact. that Ari
zona cannot undertake these pro.
jects alone"
The resolution endorsing state
control. introduced by Senator
Roberts of Cochise county, and
later modified, reads as follows:
BE 1t Resolved, That it is the
sense of this conference that all
power development on the Colo
RADIO river within the state of
Arizona shall be developed, con.