The Washington times., 1924-06-02
Boulder Dam Issue May Affect
Presidential Election
BY BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
From the continent counterpart Of the local
electric light power who gazes Ongngy
10 Great Falls alone in comparison because Of the
powerful lobby and intrigue it may also have direct
bearing upon the Presidential election results November
The city Of Los Angeles, yell past million in
population and growing rapidly than any large city
the United States with the possible exception Of Detroit ISL
clamoring for cheap hydro electric and looks toll
Boulder DAM the Colorado river to get it just Wash
ingtonans look to Great Falls.
But those people suffering just here from the most
aggressive lobby the Capitol maintained by private power
corporations and with influence apparently great
carried in black atche laden with material substance They
blocking in committee this Western project huge prac
tica undertaking that will the Government nothing n
taxation that viii protect from permanent humiliation the
rch mopica empire Of Imperial and Coachea valleys in
California the spot from which comes today the cantaoupe
on the Washington breakfast table, to be had from other
section this early and supply storage water on the
farms from the public domain for $4,000 exerce and
women at the time financing itself through the Of
power rights to the Southwestern country.
incidentally the present water supply of Imperial Valley
must through Mexico although from the Colorado river
IN the United States. The proposed bill would eliminate that
embarrassment and trouble for these farmers.
The Swing johnson BILL covering all this was introduced
IN Congress December 1929 and referred to the Irrigation
and Reclamation Committees Of House and Senate.
Long hearings followed in the House after Secretary Of
Interior Work had held up his report the bill for sixty
days Much irrelevant brought out thereby CON
Stunning many hours The hearings finished two weeks
ago. The Congressional delegation from California was told
that report would be made the hearings were
printed So far printed hearings have been finished
since March ID When the delegation pleaded action
they told wait for the hearings be printed Then
certain members Of the committee quietly pigeonhoed the
typewriter copies intended for the printer but awaiting
Of course these private power companies had nothing
20 do with that They had nothing to do with the
dictory statements issued by certain members.
In the meantime the reclamation factfinding BILL intro
duced by Chairman Smith in tt. House, taken up.
wASnc Tn rrin
This bill is sponsored by Secretary Interior Work and
little thing like printed hearings could not be allowed to delay
It The report is ready to out
Fortunately the Swing johnson bill has many friends on
the floor Of the House and Senate and it be attached as
rider to the bill that rushed through That may save
the aaudabe project which is asking favors such most
Of the reclamation projects Of the west Except in California;
asking Incidentally might California President
Coolidge.
The city Of Los Angeles which can get power from Boulder
Dam for practically half what pays the Southern
voted 902 for the Boulder Dam with 1926 against
IT. The same voters the day President COOLIDGE
1280 and Senator Johnson 1885, This
majority in the rest of the State.
William G. MCAdoo who publicly announced himself forl
the Boulder DAM carried the city Of Los Angeles by vote
Of eight to
The question is what will Administration members Of the
committees say to President Coolidge in November when
California speaks again and will have known that the Presi
Boulder Dam bill reported out2 With all respect to the
Chief Executive it Is pointed out that nearly half million
more interested the Boulder Dam than in any issue
and they will vote only for friends Of that ball.
the committee remains inactive the powerful lobby oil
private corporations will have accomplished its object but
1t hardly likely that the California delegation will permit
the matter to unchalenged from until November The
printed hearings excuse will not be swallowed when flood
menace sares those farmers in the face when millions are
denied cheap power and when thousands of exservice
could be given good farms by the Government through
project that will cost the Government nothing Political
funerals ofttimes follow such stalling
4