Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-18
ARIZONANS TELL
SENATE STAND
ON COLO. RIVER

WASHINGTON, Jan. II H9-Con-
tending the construction of dam in
Boulder canyon Of the Colorado river
! is one of the most outrageous" pro-
posals ever made for government de-
{ velopments, representatives OF Arizona
before the senate committee on irriga-
ton and reclamation today, voiced the
disapproval and objection of that state
to the proposed project.
Governor George W. P. Hunt; Null
! ford Winsor, president, of the state
senate and secretary of the Colorado
river commission of Arizona, and
: Thomas Maddox, former state hi9h-
WY engineer, old the committee that
Arizona probably would favor ratifica-
ton of the seven-State compact II a
subsidiary compact among the states
of Arizona California and NevaCl is
permitted which world rive Arizona
| the same protection affo~|'@>' ~A"'7- Of
the north basin with respect to water
| right.
| The committee also was told that
Arizona, before ratifying the compact,
must be assured that the state will
derive the same revenue as it would
| through taxation if the development
was undertaken as a private enter
prise.
Mr.. Winsor declared that it is in
conceivable that congress would ratify
treaty which was originally intended
I to be ratified by seven states and had
been ratified by but four and asserted
that the United States would be a
| u. hxy 1iY1itinO the
waters of the Colorado to the states
which ratify the compact.
In the matter of revenue it was
/ brought out that Nevada concurS IN
! the attitude of Arizona and that the
| two states would want an income Oh
1928 per horsepower annually on the
basis of $4,000 horsepower, this income
from taxation to be equally divided
between the two states
/ Governor Hunt said that 1t the
project is developed by the federal
government, Arizona would demand
that it be reimbursed annually to
the extent OF the amount the state
would receive in taxes ii development
would have been undertaken by
private enterprise.
/ Senator Johnson, of California,
asked Gov. Hunt if Arizona would
ratify the seven state compact Il
such a program was adopted and was
told that a full written reply to the
question would be filed tomorrow.
A heated exchange took place be-
tween Senators Johnson and Ashurst,
of Arizona, when johnson objected
to efforts of H. S. McCluskey. sec
retary to Gov. Hunt, to prompt him
in his replies to questions.
Senator Ashurst stated to Chairman
Phipps that he resented strongly"
actions and statements OF Senator
Johnson in denying the witness the
right to consult with others when
he is being questioned before the
committee.
"Such courtesy is accorded wit
nesses in other hearings" Ashurst
said, "and we resent the fact that
objection is raised to Gov. Hunt doing
likewise"
Senator johnson replied that he
had no intention to being discour-
teous to Hunt but that he was COM
petent to answer all questions and
he wanted answers made without
assistance from McCluskey.
Senator Dill, OF Washington, demo-
crat, endeavored to serve as peace
maker. but stated that he agreed
with Ashurst Phipps ruled that such
questions should be settled in eXecu-
tive session and asked that the
incident be closed.
"Do you deny the governments
right to enact this legislation?" Sen.
atcr Johnson asked Governor Hunt.
| eve deny the right without the
consent of Arizona"
"Do you deny the governments
right to enact flood control legisla-
, tion?"' Senator Johnson asked.
"We deny that right in some in
stances"
Pressed for some OF the instances,
Governor Hunt fell back on his form
er statement that he would file "a
full written answer" tomorrow.
/ Governor Hunt stated that Arizona
claims title to the Colorado river
because 43 per cent OF the watershed
/ is in that state.
"What do you claim you own?"
/ Senator Johnson asked.
"We claim the bed OF the river as
a navigable stream .
"Under those circumstances do you
! deny the governments right to con-
4 struct a damp"
"Under certain circumstances VIC
4 do" Governor Hunt replied
Again, pressed for an answer now
! he stated it was impossible for him
to do so.
s'There are certain circumstances
and conditions, however, under which
Arizona would consent to this legis-
lation?" Senator johnson continued,
eyes, but California would not
agree"
] "'But there are circumstances, under
the revenue plan as you mentioned,
by which Arizona would ratify the
compact" Johnson pressed.
"Arizona objects to the government
going into the power business" Gov
Hunt replied eve object to the
government erecting plants of any
kind that would compete with state
! or private enterprises"
Milford Winsor, president OF the
Arizona state senate, appearing as
secretary of the Colorado river COM