Imperial Valley press., 1925-04-24
All But Blair
Face Charge of
Abusing Office
Continued from Pare ~


to the district attorney, who was
present.
Although no names were mention
ed when the jury made known that
accusations had been drawn, it was
generally known that they were
drawn against Irrigation District
Officials, as the jury has been in
vestigating the affairs of the dis
trict for several months past. No
accusation was filed against Direc-
tor Blair, who was only recently
elected to the board of directors
1t is understood that the accusa-
tions are based on the payment of
salaries and expenses to various in
dividuals who have been sent to
Washington in behalf Of the Swing
johnson bill, also the alleged grant
ing OF free water to several thou
sand acres of land, following a re-
solution adopted by the board last
November.
Horton Special Attorney
The investigations have been con-
Quoted by the grand jury with the
aid of Attorney Harry W. Horton,
who acted as special deputy district
attorney. Horton is not on the
county payroll, and the charge is
made by Irrigation District officials
that he is being reimbursed by in
terests which are opposed to the
Swing Johnson bill.
An accusation, it is explained,
differs from an indictment in that
it is punishable only by removal
from office instead of by fine or
Imprisonment. The charges made
III an accusation must be proved in
court the same as if they were in
an indictment, and those who are
accused are entitled to trial by
jury.
Congressman Phil d. Swing, who
recently returned from Washington,
gave out the following statement
today, relative TO the action of the
grand jury:
"Thero can be no question
bu5 that the actions that have
been filed to nave Ii. offices of
Directors Pound, Aten, and Rose
OF the Imperial Irrigation District /
declared vacant is simply another /
move in the desperate strategy of
powerful interests, who have hun
dreds of millions of dollars at stake
to defeat the valleys Legislative
program for the development of the /
Colorado River by throwing ort
of office the men whom the people
elected and who have stood four
square for thu Swing johnson bill.
ond by thus getting control of the
Irrigation Distric. to use it against
the valleys own cause and in the
interests of those who oppose the
valleys program. In my opinion,
the action filed against Director
Brockman is Il mere blind "a
crude attempt at camaflouGe-to
hide their real purpose. | venture
the prediction now that the Brock
man ease win never be brought to
trial.
Attempt to Control L. A.
q An attempt t} also now being
made by the same selfish interests
TO get control of the city of Los
Angeles al the approaching muniei-
pal election. Then when the SEN
ate committee comes to- the coast
il October. this same gang will
have two public agencies beh:ad
which they can masquerade and
through. which they can work to
defeat the program of the people
and put over their own selfish
schemes.
"The first step in this local at
tempt was made when a local at
torney was put in charge of the
grand jury Tor tcc purpose of get
ting something on a majority of
the Irrigation District directors.
This attorney is the recognized rep,
resentative for all the interests that
have been bi;-erly fighting the ir-
rigation district and who are oppos.
ing the valley s legislative program.