Imperial Valley press., 1924-04-09
Much Of Strife
Centers Around
Barton's Report
(Continued from page -


this session of congress. The mo-
ton was made by Director Brock
man and seconded by Director Tren-
them. With the exception of Ira
Aten, who did not vote, and Mr.
Rose, who voted no, the motion
was approved by the board.
AIR. Rose declared after the meet
ing thas he did not expect to go
to Washington at all, unless proper
provision for financing the trip
was made. He declared that his
business interests III the valley and
work as a director of the board
would not permit him to 90 for less
than $500 a month salary while
there.
Assemblvman George H. Davis
told members of the board IN a
short but emphatic speech that he
was certain the people of the val
ley were not opposed to spending
money to keep delegates for the
Swing bill in Washington, but that
they did demand that the hoard
place everything out in the open.
Assemblvman Davis referred to
the Barton report, which he said
had never been revealed 10 valley
residents. He said that board mem
bcrs, and Mark Rose particularly,
had made a great many accusations
against the grand jury for its re
port, and vet they had not publish
ed the report of the mGn whom they
had hired to expose the grand jury.
''It is not question of the peo-
pie objecting to the board S spend
ing money to further legislation on
the Swing bill, - AssemDlyman
Davis said, "but simply that they
do demand that the board show It's
hand and let them know what is
being done. Show them tho Bar
ton report and what he has found.
Says Report Incorrect
President Pound answered As
semblyinan Davis by saving that it
had not been the intention of the
board to hire Mr.. Barton to make
report, but simply TO assist Sec
retary McIver in making findings
relative to statements made by the
grand jury. lie said that M. Bar
ton had made those findings and
that they had been turned over TO
the secretary, who was gong 10
make such additional ones a. he
needed, and that when the work
was done it would be likely that
tabulated report Of the finding.
would be available for public in
speetion.
Director Brockman declared that
the board WAS we'll within its light-
in hiring Nh. Barton 10 do work
which the secretary did not hav,
time to do himself, and tha. uulest
the board could provide for sucl
assistance when it considered II
necessary, it had no right to ST.
sround the directors table.
Mark Rose cited several instance
in which the report Of the CRANE
Jury was obviously at fault an,
charged ihm although he had ap
peared before the grand jury him
self to offer the assistance Of tn
irrigation district in uncoyerin
facts, the jury had not attempte
ito get correct ih40fulatiou.
He said that that accusations q
the jury relative to office oXpend
lures for stenographers and clerk
was not based On facts and state
that the salaries paid in mGn
banks and other offices III the va
ley were higher than those paid b
the district
Now is Critical Time
ln the matter of selling bonds b
low par as charged by the jury r.
port, Mr. Rose declared that "A
people kuew that The bonds woa
haNe 90 be sold below par uu
that whiting Is months after q
tirst sale, they had voted anoth'