Imperial Valley press., 1931-05-12

RESC|NDS
ITS VOTES
Board Does About Face
On Restricting Ballot
ing To Land Owners.
ACTION EXPLAINED
Webb's Opinion OF Uncon-
stitutionality Given AS
Reason.

BY vote of three to two the
directors of the irrigation district
today adopted a resolution with
drawing the support of the district
to the Robinson property qualifi-
cations bill and protesting against
its passage unless amendments are
made to conform to the opinion of
the attorney general eliminating
those portions of the measure which
ne has said are unconstitutional.
The resolution was introduced by
Director Ira Aten, was seconded by
Director Mark Rose and passed with
the approval of Aten, Rose and
Blair. Directors w. F.. Beal and
c. W. Brockman opposed it.
In presenting his resolution, Di-
rector Aten declared that while he
favois the principle of property
qualifications for irrigation district
elections, he had presumed that any
bill submitted to the legislature
would be framed in a manner to
conform to constitutional require
ments.
IF this bill is amended to include
all irrigation districts of the state
and thereby made to conform to
the attorney generals opinion, will
continue my support of it.
THE only result Of passing the
bill as it is now written, however,
will be to tie up this district in 8
year and half's delay in holding
any election.
1.-The All-American Canal con-
tract would be set aside until the
supreme court could determine fin
ally whether the new election law
were constitutional or not"
The resolution says in part:
Whereas the result of enactment
| of said legislative measure would
subject any election or elections
held hereunder within Imperial Ir.
rigation District to litigation and
result in delay for a period Of
from one to two years while the
courts of the state of California are
determining the constitutionality Of
this legislation, and
Whereas Imperial Irrigation
District will within the next few
months be faced with the respon-
sibility of an election to decide the
will of its electors with respect to
the proposed All-American canal
contract to be entered into with the
United States of America, which Is
vital to the welfare of the Imperial
Irrigation district, its electors and
assessment payers and any undue
delay is not to the best interests
of those concerned"
After enumerating other objec-
tions to the present Robinson bill.
the resolution concludes with q
withdrawal of endorsement and en-
try of a protest unless proper
amendments are made.
Blair Explains Stand
w. o. Blair, another of the direc-
tors to vote for the resolution OF
protest, said today that he did not
originally favor the Robinson bill
because it failed to make the pro-
per distinctions in the qualifications
! to be placed on voters. Later some
of the objections he had were re-
/ moved by amendments and he then
consented to giving his approval.
However" Blair declared, II
must definitely protest against any
bill that would interfere seriously
with the ratification of the ALI
American canal contract.
II believe that my first duty as
| director is to protect Imperial VAL
ley's water supply. The All-Ameri-
can canal is the one real solution
of our water troubles. On the eve
| of an election to decide whether We
| will accept the All-American canal
contract or not, am not going to
be a party to any movement that
will unduly delay or jeopardize the
validity of that election"
Director w. F. Beal stated this
| morning that ne is not particularly
favorable to the Robinson bill but
that he objects to last minu.e
| change of mind. Brockman made
no comments on his vote on the
| resolution. Rose declared that the
only reason why sponsors OF the
measure could continue to support