Imperial Valley press., 1931-02-20

News was a weekly paper but he
soon changed it into a Semi-weekly
and eventually into a daily publica-
ton.
In the years following he worked
religiously to build up his paper
and had the satisfaction of watch
ing it develop into one of the best
dailies in Southern California.
Always interested in public mat
ters, he entered politics four years
ago. as a candidate for the assem-
bly, and was elected. He was re-
elected in 1928 and again last fall.
Aided River Project
He was one of the early leaders
in the movement to harness the
Colorado river. having seen it dev-
astate the valley 25 years ago. This
inspired his legislative work in con-
nection with Colorado river legisla-
ton and he was responsible for the
introduction of several irrigation and
reclamation bills. which aided con-
siderably in putting the state of
California officially behind the
Swing g-Johnson bill.
In the present assembly he pre-
sented two bills, one to extend the
life of the present California Colo
RADIO river commission and the other
to permit the Imperial Irrigation
district to construct the All-Ameri-
can canal in the event the United
States government should reject bids
on this enterprise.
He also introduced a bill to ex-
tend the boundaries of the district,
and certain bills having to do with
county government. He was opposed
to the bill introduced by another
assemblyman to provide a public
defender for Imperial county as
Serting it would cost the taxpayers
$4,000 annually without any COM
pensating benefit.
He was chairman of the important
committee on irrigation and was
member of several other commit
tees of the assembly.
1t was his intention at the next
session of the legislature, late this
month, to introduce three measures
bearing upon the subject of utility
rates, and seeking to restore powers
which had been shorn from the state
railroad commission in its super
vision of utilities of the state.
Public recognition of the high es-
TEEN in which he was held in his
home town was manifested by the
city council, and by display of the
flag at half staff on various public
and private buildings in Brawley
He was a member of the Presby-
terian church and was also an ac-
tive member of the Brawley Rotary
club, the Masons, Elks and Odd Fell
lows. 1H'-s.
In a telegram received at the e.
Centre Chamber of Commerce to-
day from R. B. Whitelaw, president
of that organization. who with
Secretary Hays and Leo Hetzel, is
attending the bi-monthly meeting
of the California State Chamber Of
Commerce, Whitelaw stated that on
every hand manifestations of pro-
found sorrow are being expressed
by members of the state chamber
over the loss to California which is
caused by the death of Myron D.
Witter. Witter was a ranking mem
Der of the state chamber from
Imperial county and has taken a
prominent part in state chamber
affairs, especially in the work con-
nected with state highways as a
member of the highway committee
of the state body.
Witter has long worked with the
Ell Centro chamber in matters of
community interest both in Imper-
ial Valley and at the state capital.
It is largely due TO him that the
splendid highway program now be-
ing worked out in this county is
due and for many years he has
worked with the El Centre chamber
toward the establishment of a
fruit frost service here, a project
which this year met with success.
The making Of a game refuge of
the southern part of Salton Sea,
an accomplishment of this winter,
was another of the matters i'll
which Witter took an active in
terest. In commenting upon the
cooperation and helpfulness which
Witter has always shown toward FL
Centre, WhitelaW telegraphcd the
following:
In the death of Myron d.
Witter. the community loses a
great and good man and Ell Gen.
tro a sincere friend He possessed
to a supreme degree a sense of civic
consciousness and a loyalty 20 I'm
perial Valley unsurpassed. We feel
the loss to our own community and
to California an irreparable one