The Coconino sun., 1925-12-04
HUNT ASKS FOR ANOTHER
COLO. RIVER CONFERENCE

NVAVs kA4AA OO1N1sAkA1SNA
Arizona is willing to hold. an in
formal conference with representa-
tives of California and Nevada look-
| ing toward satisfactory settlement
of the differences between the states
on Colorado river development, pro-
vided such conference is not predicat-
ed on Boulder Canyon or other devel-
opment, Governor Hunt has informed
State Senator Ralph Swing Of Cali
fornia.
The conference has been postponed
to attempt to reach an agreement be-
tween lower basin states regarding
ing apportionment of the water and
the distribution of benefits to be de-
rived from harnessing the stream
and to further comply with the pro-
visions of the law authorizing the ne
gotiation of a compact between the
seven basin states and the United
States with reference to the Colorado
river.
III his letter addressed to Senator
Swing, Governor Hunt said that a
previous Phoenix conference had fail
ed because the other states demanded
that all discussion be predicated upon
an approval of the Boulder Canyon
project. Governor Hunt specifies that
a future. conference, If held, should
be confined to reaching an agreement
as to the ALLEGATION of benefits, leav-
ing the question Of location of indi-
vidual projects for further considera-
ton.
So far as the matter in issue is
concerned, = Governor Hunt said,
the question. of the location of dams
has no place in the discussion. The
question to be settled first is how
much water each Of the three states
is to receive and an agreement with
reference to hydo-electiic power that
may be developed within the state Of
Arizona or between it and other
states. Such discussion and a pos
sible solution cannot under the law,
and should not, be predicated upon
the SWing-Johnson bill, as you sug-
gest, the Boulder Canyon, or any par
ticular development.
A compact appartioning the water
of the Colorado river. and the Swing
johnson bill Of Boulder Canyon de-
velopment, are. not synonymous and
within the scope of the act authoriz-
ing the compact. suggest one ques-
ton at time should be settled !"
In his. letter to Governor Hunt,
Senator Swing asked that the chief
executive set forth the exact demands
that Arizona would make, so that
they could be discussed before any
conference was held.
There is some uncertainty as to
just what Arizona demands" Senator
Swing said. In order that we may be
Informed before the meeting, and to
enable US to act advisedly, | would
respectfully request that you let me
have a definite statement Of Arizona 5
demands, both as to water and power
From the statements made at the
Phoenix meeting it was plain that
Arizona would require compensation
in some form, but no one, to my
knowledge, made it clear upon what
basis the compensation was to be COM
puted. Some marie the suggestion a
block of power be set aside, others
that Arizona should be granted the
privilege of levying tax in soiAe
form upon the power developed, and
there may have been some other sug-
gestions.
with this uncertainty existing, it
is almost impossible for me to take
the matter up and discuss it intelli-
gently with the representatives OF
southern California, which | would
wish to do before the meeting. With
a clear statement of Arizona's de- /
mands prior to the meeting, we can
have thorough discussion and be
advised in the premises and prepared |
10 act"