Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-13

Lower Rio Grande Valley irrigation interests ar,
considerably perturbcd over the exclusion by the sen
ate committee Of the Valley amendment to the Boulder
Canyon dam bill, accepted by the house during the last
session and Incorporated in the house bill.
The Valley amendment provides that the measure
shall not IN any way be construed Us p~reiudieial ~
che interests OF Mexico. If Mexico has such interests,
In the waters of the Colorado. With this amendment
every objectionable feature Of an international char
acter which the bill may possess is eliminated, but
without il the measure will he construed by Mexico rs
prejudicial 10 her interests.
The menace Of the Boulder Canyon dam bill in its
present form Is intensified by the fact that ALLEGATIONS
Of water already made on the American side Of the
stream are over 100000 acre feet in excess Of the
annual flow. In view Of this fact, Mexico would os
perfectly justified in rssenting passage Of the measure
without the amendment proposed By the Valley irriza-
ton interests.
In justice to Senator johnson Of California and
other proponents Of the Boulder Canyon dam project,
1t must be stated that they favor inclusion Of the
amendment. Senator Johnson has moved substitution
Of the house bill for the measure submitted by the
senate committee. The house bill Is satisfactory 70
Valley interests in every respect, and while Mexico
cannot take official cognizance Of the measure, u Is
generally conceded BY Mexican officials in close con-
tact with the border irrigation situation that passage
or the house bill would be an important factor in con
nection with any negotiation for a treaty setting forth
the respective rights OF the two countries in border
streams.
The future OF the Lower Rio Grande Valley depends
70 no small extent upon a treaty with Mexico which
nil clearly define the respective water rights and
which will also he the basis for conservation Of Rio
Grande waters. Any action or measure which directly
or indirectly infrhnges upon the rights OF Mexico will
react to the disadvantage n tho Valley irrigation in
terests. The Valley wants an equitable distribution
81 tho wrters or the international streams. Passage
OF a bill which would ignore such rights as Mexico may
have in the waters q the Colorado, which now irr,-
gate over GOO 600 acres 81 Mexican land in Lower Cali
fornia. undoubtedly would undoubtedly prevent IN
definitely the negotiation Of such a treaty.
The Valley irrigation districts have called the at
tention OF the Texas and other Southwestern senators
20 this situation, and kilograms have also been dis
patched by the Cameron county commissioner eour.
and others interested. Congressman John Garner, as
usual, is carefully watching the Valley interests, and
in the event the measure passes the senate with the
Valley amendment excluded will cndeavcr to rc-incor-
porats IL in the bill in conference.
II 10 imperative that every influence Of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley be brought to bear 10 prevent final
passage Of the bill in its present form. The Valley
cannot afford 70 wait indefinitely for a water treaty
visions az the house bill are accepted by the senate i.
nsy be impossible to secure action by the Mexican gov
eminent.