Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-09-30
COMPROMISE is
EXPECTED IN
RIVER PARLEY

DENVER Sept. 80 CP)-Persisteflt
runors of an imminent compromise
among the states of California, New
ada and Arizona on the power issue
today gave fresh impetus to the move
ment for tri-state compact at the
Colorado river conference.
Nevada and Arizona were partially
committal as to the status of the
negotiations between the two states,
but California, was as yet to be ap-
preached on the question of a power
agreement predicated on a solving of
the vexing water-division problem.
Water, as an issue, was being held in
allegiance pending the outcome of the
conversations on the questions held
paramount by Arizona.
Early in the day United States Sem
ator Carl Hayden of Arizona addressed
letter to the governors of the four
upper basin states, asking them to
determine whether power benefits
should be based on the fall of the
streams in the respective states or on
the $3.50 basis proposed by the Nevada
delegation. Arizona was willing, the
letter said, to use either basis on any
dam site located between two states.
In reply, the upper basin suggested
that each state should, as between
themselves, share equally in the bene-
fits accruing to them from the gener-
alton of hydro-eleetric power The
return letter was signed by Governor
W. H. Adams, Colorado; Governor
George H. Dern, Utah; John A. Whit
ing, Wyoming, acting for Governor
Frank c. Emerson and Francis C.
Wilson, New Mexico, acting for Gov
ernor r. G. Dillon.
For the first time the Wyoming
executive was pledged to a recognition
OF state ownership of the bands and
bed of the Colorado river when his
personal representative signed the let
ter containing the affirmation that
such sovereignty was vested in the
states through which the stream flow
ed. Governor Emerson himself left
for Cheyenne Wednesday night to con-
duct congressional investigating
committee through government prop"
critics in Wyoming.
The division of sentiment between
Arizona and Nevada on the apportion-
meht of power benefits was reported
to be OIL the point Of allocating Cali
fornia-the third Of the lower basin
states stipulated amount of the
revenues. Arizona has maintained
from the first that California be given
one-third of the power benefits
The upper basin, in accordance with
its present desire, was understood to
be keeping neutral on the power ques-
ton in the hope that the trio of lower
states could settle the issue among
themselves without extending the
provisions of any pact to the states of
the upper basin. Arizona was known
to be cOntending for general appli-
cation of a power pact to all the seven
states, but three states of the upper
basin had expressly stated that they
would have no part in the controversy
as principals. Their desire, New Mex
leo, Wyoming and Utah representa-
tives pointed out, was to act only as
arbiters n the strictest sense.
Tom Maddox, a former Arizona
state engineer, several days ago told
the open conference that Arizona was
willing to accept Nevada's $3.50 prop
osition on power if the principle were
applied to every available dam site
along the stream in both basins.
The ostensible purposes behind the
power negotiations was the ultimate
redrafting of the Swing johnson
Boulder canyon dam bill which will
be up for reconsideration at the COM
ing session of congress. Arizona, it
was said, felt that it could make its
case for reframing the measure.