White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-12-26
Delegates Vote
Against Limited
Bond Liability
Resolution Not Included
!. In Recommendations
!
To Legislature

4 Many subjects of unusual interest
to the irrigated sections of the state
were brot up for discussion at the
meeting of the Washington Irrigation
Institute held at El1ensburg the latter
part Of last week.
Of particular interest to this valley
was the statement made by man OF
unquestioned authority and knowledge,
to the effect that since 1921, when the
irrigation district law was amended,
providing for the approval by the State
Director of Conservation and Develop
ment all future irrigation district
bond issues, no irrigation district
whose bond issues have been subject
to this supervision has found itself
in financial difficulties.
The question Of limited bond liza
bility was fully and ably discussed by
prominent irrigation authorities. A
resolution was presented by the COM
fraittee recommending to the legis-
lature that an amendment De made
to the district law, providing that
districts desiring in the future to float
bond issues, might do so on limited
liability. This resolution led to live
w debate and when the question was
put to a vote of the house, was de-
feated. AS a result, the Institutes
recommendations will go to the legis-
1ature without the inclusion of this
resolution.
AS the law now stands, there is a
provision for those districts in fl
nafcial difficulties to work out their
problem, thru limiting the liabilities
of old indebtedness but there is no
provision for new issues Of bonds
on this basis.
Mr.. Stoutemeyer, district counsel
for the Federal Bureau of Reclama-
ton, during TIE discussiony pointed out
that districts dea1ing with the Federal
Reclamation Service should consider
with great care this matter Of limited
liability as it was policy that the
department would not recognise.
considerable interest is being shown
in. the bond election now being adj
vertised and which is to be held on
January 10th. Judging from comments
the proposition does not seem to be
very well understood and efforts are
being made to present all of the
facts to those interested, so that every
one may vote intelligently on the
question.
The issue of $125,oo0 in bonds,
should it become necessary to sell
the whole amount, which does not
seem likely for some time to come,
would place an average OF $2o:50 per
acre upon the 6100 acres designated
as good irrigable land under the ditch,
and not including any lands now be-
ing irrigated by privatea pumping |
plants. It is proposed that this issue
will run over a period Of twenty-five
years and draw interest at the rate OF
s. per cent. ).
Z; Based upon the taxes paid, and
assessed and still unpaid for 1929,
which would amount to approximately |
S3.4O per acre for the lands paying |
maintenance at the present time, the
saving to these lands in taxes alone,
were the irrigation district to take
over the properties, would amount to
twice the annual sum required for
bond retirement and interest.
The time is drawing near for the
receivers sale and everyone should
acquaint himself with the plans being
advanced for handling the situation
thru the irrigation district, not thru
idle street talk but from the officers
of the district.
s That the situation is serious should
be recognized by all. If the properties
are not bid in with the trust feature
preserved the consequences to this
valley will be disastrous and far reach
ing.
I White Bluffs men attending the
Institute meeting at E1lensburg were
F. A. English, Ira Hawley, Alex
Parke, Herman Heideman, Carl Heide-
man, w. ]. Kincaid and D. S. Wilkin-
son. 1850