Imperial Valley press., 1927-02-01
MINORITY
'ARRA|('NFD
BY POUND
Declares Opponents of
District Program to
Blame If Bill Loses.
DECISION REVERSED
Court Upholds Policy of
District in Maintaining
Delegation at Capital.

If the Swing johnson bill fails TO
be passed by the present congress,
then the people of Imperial valley
have just one small minority group
to thank, declared Earl G. Pound,
president of the Imperial Irrigation
District, today, when asked for n
statement with regard to the sup
RENE court decision yesterday re-
versing the injunction against the
district sending delegates to Wash
ington to work for the Swing John
son bill.
"That small minority led by men
recently in public trust has reason
to be pleased with the success Of its
heckling and harrassments of the
people, s program, for the ill-timed
suits, brought in contradiction of
the best legal advice, halted the
District from actively supporting
this legislation through the larger
part of the last congressional ses-
sion and the most crucial period of
this short session.
"We should have had delegates
in Washington at least q month be-
fore congress convened this fall, to
start the educational campaign that
is vital if power and other adverse
interests are to be met. But be-
cause of these accusations, injunc-
tions and court actions, all predict
ed upon the assertion by this small
group that such expenditures are IL
legal, the program of the people
80 per cent of them-was held up
and so handicapped that it is ex-
tremelv doubtful whether this con.
gTess E9ill give the relief we seek"
Officials of the District point out
the fact that there is now In full
operation in Washington the most
powerful lobby for private power
interests opposing the Swing John
son bill, and that Imperial valley
has lost tremendously in it's advan-
tage because it has been impossible
to keep two or three competent de-
legates on the ground there to ex-
plain the real meaning of the legis-
lation and to keep members of com
mittees and of congress at large
informed as to our needs.
Judge A. c. Finney. who was as
sociated with Attorney Charles l..
Childers in defending the district in
the Crawford test case, stated this
morning that he is greatly gratified
to have the position of the district
vindicated bv the highest court.
"Our arguments were the the di-
rectors of the district are required
by law to safeguard the water sup
ply and in that capacity very prop
erly may negotiate with the neces-
sary parties to gain the end. In the
instance of the Boulder dam project
there is no other party to negotiate
with than the congress of the Unit
ed States, and in sending delegates
to present the matter, the district
was simply complying with its law
full duties.''
The decision reversed the ruling
of the Superior Court handed down
by Judge Walter Guerin Of Los An
geles county, sitting protein in I'm
perial county several months ago.
The Imperial Irrigation District
in 1925 contracted with b. f. Fly
to send him to Washington as a per
sonal representative of the district
for the purpose of advocating pass
age of the Swing-Johnson bill.
A friendly suit was filed by n,
r. Crawford, a taxpayer of the dis
trict. to restrain Fly from acting
in that capacity on the twofold
contention that the contract was
against public policy in that ii was
intended to Influence legislation and
that the irrigation district had no
authority to expend funds for that
purpose.
Crawford s contentious were up
held by Judge Guerin, who granted
the restraining order. The case was
then appealed.
In rendering decision. the Sup.
RENE Court drew q distinction be
tween "pcrsonal. secret or sinister
influence.' and "open advocacy
of a cause On the principle that
the irrigation district body is nor
wholly municipal corporation
and has been granted unusually
broad powers bv the state legisla
ture, Crawford $ second contention
was overruled.