Imperial Valley press., 1929-12-21

GET Ting
NERVOUS
River Commission Will
Meet Next Week To De-
eide On Course.
ATTITUDE UNKNOWN
Wilbur's Suggestion To
Hold Further Confer
ences Causes Worry.

PHOENIX, Dec. 81. U.pl-The
Colorado river commission will meet
early next week to decide whether
to follow the suggestion of Seere-
tary of Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur
that conferences between Arizona,
California and Nevada be held TO
reach an agreement on ALLEGATION OF
Boulder dam power.
Chairman of the Commission
Charles B. Ward now is in Mexico
but is expected to return late Sun
day. Immediately thereafter the
commission will confer on the mat
ter and q statement is expected TO
be presented for Governor John &.
Phillips approval Tuesday at the
latest.
az can not say what the attitude
of the comission is at present."
secretary of the Commission John
Mason Ross said today concerning
the proposal at is a matter that
must be acted on quickly, however,
il such conferences are to be held"
lie added.
Governor Phillips received the
secretary's interiors suggestion late
yesterday. He refused to discuss
the matter until after the river con-
mission acted.
If this state decided to partici-
pate in tri-state conference, ARR
zona's threatened court action
6 gainst construction of Bouldef dam
probably will be averted, it was
said.
Secretary of the Interior Wilbur
has wired the governors of Califor-
MIA, Arizona and Nevada, asking If
they would consent to resume nego-
tiations regarding the lower basin
Of the Colorado river, according to
dispatches received here today. This
is final effort to appease Arizona
and induce that state TO give up Its
threatened injunction suit, according
to Irrigation District officials.
! If replies to the secretary's sug-
gestion are favorable, he will pro-
! pose the time and place for the con-
| ferences. 1t is further intimated
| that he would not attend these con-
ferences in person but would be rep
resented at them.
Great fear is expressed by those
who have intimate and authorita-
! tive knowledge of the water needs
of California and especially of the
! Imperial and Coachella valleys, that
! the suggestion of the federal gov
ernment to reopen the conferences
| between the interested states will
only offset any chance of congress
making necessary appropriations for
! the Boulder dam project during the
present session.
Such negotiations and conferences
have proven fruitless in the past, 1t
! was pointed out and will always
have the same result unless the see
retary of the interior himself pro-
mulgates this meeting, presides over
it in person and carries it through
! to some conclusion. The secretary
| has to be the one behind such a
meeting and the responsibility given
to him by the authority of the Boul-
der dam bill, should not be unloaded
! onto the different states, it is assert
/ ed.
SACRAMENTO, Dee. 81. (UP)--
| California is willing at any time to
resume negotiations for the settle
ment of the Boulder dam dispute,
Goversor Young said here last night,
hut the first move must come from
Arizona.
The request for reopening confer
ences between Nevada. California
and Arizona should logically come
from Arizona, as it was that state
which originally broke away from
the conference called by California,
/ tie governor said.
The executives statement was
made as result of Secretary Of the
Interior Ray l.. Wilbur's suggestion
TO the governors of the three states
that they initiate new conference
in order to settle their Boulder dam
| dispute.