Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-10
Joint Association Goes
On Record In
Resolution
ROBERTSON
OF San Benito Named 10
Conduct Fight On Pro-
posed Measure
t5y Staff Correspondent

tBy stair correspondent
SAN BENTTO, Feb. Imposition
10 a bill now pending before the
legislature which would tax the
owners Of appropriations for waters
OF the state to defTay expenses of
the State Board OF Water Engineers,
on the ground that such a tax
would be unfair. was voiced mt "a
meeting OF the conservation commit
tee OF the Joint Association Uf
Cameron Hidalgo County Water Inn
provement districts In session here
Monday afternoon.
The opposition was expressed In
the form OF q resolution as follows:
Whereas a bill now pending be-
fore the state legislature known
as House Bill No. 325 proposes to
tax the owners OF appropriations Of
the waters of the state Of Texas
to defray the expense Of the State
Board Of Water Engineers. and GER
tain contemplated activities OF such
board. In said bill set out. none nf
which expenses or activities are de-
signed 10 benefit the present own
ers or such appropriations:
Therefore. be IN resolved by the
water conservation committee uf
the Joint Association of Cameron
Hidalgo County Water Improvement
Districts:
That this body 20 on record rs
being ~unalterably opposed TO said
bill and the proposal TO tax such
water appropriations and that it
oppose the enactment Of same BY
all means in its power
Frank S. Robertson OF San Be-
nito was named TO 20 to Austin In
conducting a fight against this bill.
He probably will leave the latter
part OF this week.
Places Burden on Valley
There are any number of reasons
why the proposal I'd tax water ap-
preparations - unfair 10 the VAL
ley said MIR. Robertson Monday
after the meeting. 1T is proposed
TO levy q tax OF two cents per year
on each acre foot OF water which
might be taken and used from this
states waters. This would mean
that the Valley. which owns 90 per
cent Of the states water appropria-
tons, would be compelled to pay
about $4,000 a year for the main
tenance Of the board.
The board proposes 70 use "A
part OF this money for various sur
veys which would prbably result in
the development OF other irrigated
areas In competition with the VAL
ley. With the Valley paying the cost
OF these surveys Ii Is evident that
such an arrangement would be most
unfair 10 this section. The state
ms a whole III more interested in
such work than this particular sec
ton especially since the federal gov
ernment Is making or intending %
make al the surveys this section de-
sires.
The proposal also is most UNI
fair TO the most taxed individual
we have and that is the farmer who
bears a heavier burden In the irri-
gated areas than elsewhere. "A tax
on the alter used would have to he
paid for in the final analysis by the
farmer.
Most or the Valleys water fights
were secured before formation uf
the State Board OF Water Engineers
In 1913. yet one or the penalties
provided for In the proposed law Avn
the voiding OF such rights for fail
ure TO pay the tax. Valley districts
feel that they have a vested right 10
their appropriations which would be
endangered by the passage Of this
legislation. Water rights would re-
vert back to the state where appro-
prlations failed to pay the tax.
Inc bill states that 10 intends To
relieve the general fund Of the Elk
pense OF the board Ket its benefits
are general rather than On special
aid 10 this section.
Purposes OK the fund 10 Nv raised
by the proposed taxation are ser
forth In the bill NV follows. 4. Sal
aries OF the board and ill., employees.
office expenses and the necessary
actual travelling expenses or the
board and the employees thereof. 2.
Stream measurement or other sur
VeyS 70 determine what quantity on
water may be available from any
given source OF supply. 3. Topo-
graphic. photographic. and. when
relating TO water supply or the con-
troll Of water. geologic surveys. 4.
The cost 10 discharge any other du-
ties imposed or the board by the
statutes.
The bill would double the salaries
or MI members or the present board
and of the secretary. Present Sal
aries would H. raised t0 5000 an-