Imperial Valley press., 1925-01-02

( though we know he has stated to
J others that he was convinced the
bin could not be passed before
March 4, but must hold over until
! the next session of congress.
Must Be Done Now
/" Tie does not seem to realize that
if his bin is ever to be. enacted into
law is must be done during the pre-.
sent session of congress. Because of
the political complexion of the next
congress, n bill which does not have
the full support Of the administra'
ion will have far less chance of be-
| ing enacted into law than such 4 bill
has in the present session.
Another thing Mr. Swing does
not seem to realize is the fact that
bill containing three distinct prop
ositions, two of which are more or
less Objectionable TO n large per,
centage of those interested, has far
less chance of success than bill
containing only one proposition on
which practically al are united.
EVERY person interested in legls'
lation with whom | talked while in
Washington agreed that the one par
amount issue, so far as the develop
ment of the Colorado river is con
ccrned, is flood control, and all
seemed willing and anxious TO as
sist in such development at as early
u date as possible. -
"Congressman Swing admitted, IN
his opening statement before the
senate committee on irrigation and
reclamation. that the primary thing
was flood control, and / think he
made the same statement IN ms
testimony before the house commit
tee.
President Coolidge in public ut
terances at various times has de-
clared in no uncertain terms IN re-
gard to this great enterprise, ana
he no doubt is anxious that proper
legislation shall be enacted and the
actual work of construction com
menced during his term of office,
but i defy anyone to produce a
public statement that he has ever
made in which he endorsed the
Swing Johnson bill, !, therefore,
conclude that he is not in. full sym
pathy with the bill as written.
Legal Action Possible
"a few members of congress with
whom l discussed the Swing Johnson
bill declared that they approved of
all three propositions contained IN
the bill; great majority, however,
were opposed either to the All
American canal feature, or the
HYDRO electric feature, or both. Some
of those who favored all proposi-
tions contained in, the bill said we
would not know it when reported
out of committee. Others made the
statement that if it should be forced
through congress legal action would
be started before Il shovel of dirt
was turned, which probably would
DELAY construction for at least 10
or II years. Anv relief, therefore,
from this bill IN the near future
seems almost hopeless. :,
"The Fredericks bin as written is
open to some of the same criticism
advanced in regard to the Swing.
johnson bill, but we are informed
that Congressman Curry, acting
chairman of the house copmittee ON
flood control. sent. copy OF the
Fredericks bill to the secretaries of
interior, war, commerce and agri-
culture, and requested them to con-
vey to the committee their OPINION
of the bill as written, and sugges-
tions of legislation in regard TO
river control that would meet with
the approval of their respective de-
partments.
eff the secretaries Interested
should avail themselves of this op-i
portunity TO place before the com
mittee their views regarding legis-t
lation affecting the river, and such
suggestions can be written into the
Fredericks bill in such manner rs 10
make it satisfactory TO the admins,
tration, it is barely possible that,
it may pass this congress, but un-
less so amended this bill is also
doomed to defeat.
6r1gnc spot OlSCoIu1pAC
cone bright spot, however, 's
discernible in the near future. The
administration is pledged to the.
general principle Of control of the
flood waters of the Colorado river
and no doubt will give full support
to such measure, whenever bill
is introduced in congress eliminat'-
ing all local issues and providing for
flood control only, or when any bill
is so amended as to meet the above
requirements.
''If no legislation is enacted dur
ing the present session of congress
bearing on this subject, we may hope
almost to degree of certainty that
the next congress will pass such a
measure, leaving unprejudiced the
construction of an All-American
canal, and the generating Of hydro
electric energy for municipalities.
Legislation is largely matter
of compromise between contending
factions or schools of belief, and
whenever we arrive at state OF
mind in which we are willing to lay
aside for the time being the things
on which we do not agree and lend
our united support to the one great
est thing to be desired by the peo-
pie of Imperial Valley, our journey
will be easy and flood control Of
the Colorado river will soon be an
accomplished fact.
Gas long as the proponents of the
A1lAmerican canal and the munich