Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-09-25
RIVER PARLEY
TALKS POWER,
CAI|F.OPPOSES
Arizona Emphasizes Her
Claim for Compensation
for Power Site.
NEVADA AGREES
Senator Pittman Urges
Stand on States Rights
to Colo. River.

DENVER, Colo, Sept. "a, F9-An
ear to the ground to catch the re-
action in washington, the Colorado
river conference today tackled the
hydro-electric power problem with
apparent miSgivings and over the
protest of California that water div
ision be given prior consideration.
Linked with the attempt to eff
feet a settlement in the lower basin
on power was the question Of the
constitutionality of the Swing
Johnson Boulder canyon dam bill,
as it affects states rights and of the
whole policy of the federal govern
ment.
United States Senator Key Pittman
of Nevada appeared to express the
sense of the conference when he de-
clared for early action on the prob
lems besetting the parley in view OF
the convening OF congress in De-
cember. If something is not done,
Pittman said, the conference will
not be on record for the benefit OF
congress when the SWing-Johnson
bill comes up for Consideration again.
Both Arizona and Nevada pre-
sented today their conceptions OF
a basis for power settlement, and
recess was taken until 10 a. m.
Tuesday to allow California time to
prepare it's power plan following a
motion by John L. Bacon of Cali
fornia that reconvention be had
Monday to discuss the water pro-
posals of the three states which are
in the hands of the upper basin
governors committee.
While Arizona and Nevada con-
tended for a concrete agreement on
the disposition of power to be gen.
Grated by a dam or dams on the
Colorado, Senator Pittman urged
hat his states rights resolution be
adopted by the parley as combin-
ing set of general principles. To
attempt to effect tangible agree
ment, he argued, would prolong the
discussions and jeopardize the
chances of going on record.
It developed out of the days dis
cussionS that Arizona does not de-
sire to tax a federal construction
and, therefore, the Boulder canyon
dam-but wants only the assurance
that some form of compensation
will be given her for use of her
lands and waters. To insure Cali
fornia's acceptance OF Pittman's
principles, mild attempts were made
to bring about such changes in
Arizona's proposal as to make it
general in character. Francis Wilson,
New Mexico state engineer, told the
parley that to assert definite claims
to ownership of lands and waters
in western states would be only to
make serious trouble for us in
Washington"
w. B. Mathews for California re-
minded the conference that Cali
fornia's main concern is legislation
for the Boulder Canyon dam.
Tom Maddox of Arizona question
ed the authority of the federal gov
ernment to go into the power busi-
ness, declaring that the constitution
ality of the governments operations
along the Mississippi was in dis
pute. His colleague, Judge Clifton
Mathews in presenting the legal as
poets of Arizona's power plan, up
held the contention that states may
demand compensation for use of
their lands and water. The federal
power act itself, he said, was ques-
toned as to it's constitutionality, but
the federal reclamation act was
thoroughly in acord with the prin-
ciples outlined in the Arizona pro-
posal.
Senator Pittman pointed out that
the reclamation act recognizes the
sovereignty of the states over nav
igable streams. "The proposed Boul-
der Canyon dam," he continued, "is
not contemplated under the re-
clamation act, and I doubt whether
the government has the authority
to build it. 1t doesn't seem to me
that dam built for irrigation and
power can be construed to be a
structure for regulation of naviga-
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