Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1928-01-28
BOULDER DAM BILL
IN lap OF THE GODS.
HAS CHANCE TO PASS
Committees Favor Action on
Long Discussed Subject
Majority of Both Houses
Thought Favorable.
Administration Leaders An
noyed by Lack of State
Harmony. - Agreement
Would Practically Assure
Legislation.

Legislation.
With the committee hearings
closed, the Boulder Dam legisla-
tios is, in a way, in the hands Of
The Gods.
Out OF the great mass of testi-
mony placed before the commit
tees, the task now comes OF franz
ing the best bill possible, one
which shall be sound economically
and financially, which will do sub
stantial justice to the states and
not incur too greatly the oppOsi-
ton of the power interests. That,
to be sure, Is a large order, but
1t can be done. The discussions
before the committees have,
think, developed no irreeoncilable
conflicts.
An agreement between the low.
er basin states would, Oi course,
simplify the matter greatly In
spjte Of the oppositions made by
Arizona, with some backing from
Utah and Colorado, there is under
the surface very evident hope
that the states may get together.
This hope is voiced privately by
members of all groups.
Even the opposition of the great
power interests of the country can
be minimized9 if reasonable and
proper provisions are inserted in
the bin whereby they can parti-
cipate in the power development
at Boulder Canyon An advance
fnuyord ct1nh afra no NJ "a q
been made and it is probable that
leaders in both houses of Con-
gress would welcome the partici.
patton of private enterprise with
the city of Los Angeles in the dis
tribution OF Boulder Dam power
through Southern California.
Steps have been taken by the
Nevada delegation here toward
bringing about a final effort to
harmonic the difference between
Arizona, California and Nevada
This move has the approval of
members of both the Arizona and
California delegations, but whe-
ther it will result in an agreement
only time will tell.
With regard to revenue from
power lor Arizona and Nevada,
the chief obstacle will probably
be the fear that such a provisioe
would create a precedent which
would affect the interests of other
states in the future 1t is a new
principle OF legislation as applied
to power Developments.
AT the closing session of the
Senate Committee hearings, there
was a cross-table discussion be-
tween Senator Hayden of Arizona
and Senator Johnson of California
in which both agreed to cooperate
in the effort to have such a prin-
cipIe approved by the administra-
tion and written into the legisla-
tion. This is, of course, rather in
definite, hut it shows a decided
disposition to meet each others
views.
w. B. Mathews, one of the Cali
fornia commissioners, in his clos
ing statement before the Senate
committee last Saturday after
noon, stated that in his opinion
the conferences at Denver and
San Francisco made much advance
toward agreement and were re
cessed with all present in a hope
full and friendly state of mind. He
stated that California is willing
and anxious to continue the nego-
tiations here and now. 1t is. the
hope that q formal conference
may be held here soon after Feb,
l, TO make a last strenuous effort
to bring the states 20 agreement
Since the study devoted to the
project at recent conferences. 1t
should not take long to determine
whether an agreement is possible
or not.
In case an agree ement cannot be
reached by the lower basin states
there is still far chance to pass
the legislation this session. Many
sesators and representatives are
convinced that the Boulder Dam
project is necessary and that ii
VIII be financially sound. Re-
membering the more than seven
years during which this legisla-
ton has been before Congress,
there is a pretty general desire
to dispose of it this session.
Nevada, aside from the incident
al benefits during construction of
the works, has two grea Interests
in the legislation We desire a
reasonable revenue for the state
from the utilization of natural re-
sources within the state. Even
California comedies that this is
just and should be provided IL a
way can be found to do SO.
Nevada also, we are agreed,
must have the right to the use of
whatever power the future de-
velopment of her mineral and in
dustrial resources may require. I
am OF the opinion that this is of
the greatest importance and that.
II we secure the right to the use
OF power at approximately switch
board cost. developments will be
assured which will create values,
attract population and wealth and
provide payrolls from which the
state treausry will receive far
greater revenue than we can hope
TO receive by any direct method