Nogales international., 1937-09-11


! for this fall The Dam will divert
water for the irrigation of lands on
the Colorado River Indian Reserva-
ton. The eventual total cost of the
project including the construction
of canals and laterals and the sub
jugation of Indian allotmentS will
be about 100000.
"Other funds for Indian irriga-
ton works in Arizona include: Fort
! Apache, $4,000; Hopi, $25 900; San
Xavier, $4,000; Navajo, 100000.
''The item of principal Importance
to Arizona is 100000 for continu-
/ alton of construction on the Gila
Project near Yuma. The Bureau OF
the Budget recommended $1,250, 900
for that project but the entire ap-
preparation was eliminated by the
House of Representatives because of
objections made by Congressman
from the Upper Colorado River
Basin.
"I was able to have the Gila Prof.
ect appropriation of $1,25O,OOO re-
stored by the Senate but not with
out considerable difficulty. Lawyers
from the Upper Basin came to
washington and insisted that no
further Federal funds be expended
on the Gila Project unless and un-
til the State of Arizona by Act OF
it's Legislature, approved by its Gov
ernor, irrevocably and uncondition-
ally agree with the United States
for the benefit of Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah, and wyoming, that
each and all of these States should
have the same rights and uses IN
respect to the waters of the Colo
RADIO River system as if the state
of Arizona had ratified and become
a party to the Colorado River Com
pact. did not hesitate to denounce
this proposal as an attempt TO
coerce my State and promptly told
the Senators and Representatives
from the Upper Basin States that I
! would never agree to any such pro-
vision.
'I did, however, consent to the
inclusion of a legislative rider which
is understood by all to be mere re-
statement of existing law. This pro-
vision, as finally adopted, declares
that the Gila Project shall be sub
ject to and controlled by the Colo
RADIO River Compact and the Boul-
der Canyon Project Act.
"This limitation is noting new
is already required by law, and does
not in any way affect the State of
Arizona or her rights to the waters
of the Colorado River. The Boulder
Canyon Project Act. under authority
of which the Gila Project is being
constructed, provides for the irriga-
ton of Federal lands with the wa
ters of the Colorado River, and
Section Eight of that Act requires
that any such irrigation project
shall be subject to the Colorado
River Compact.
"Since the Gila Project is thus al
ready controlled by the Compact I
saw no reason to object to a mere
restatement of that fact. The Gila
Project is not an Arizona project,
but a Federal project, constructed
with Federal funds for the irrigation
of Federal lands. Nothing can pre-
vent such project from being sub
ject to Federal law, nor can such a
project jeopardize the rights of
Arizona or any of the Upper Basin
States.
''The appropriation of $1,250,000
thus passed the Senate and was
sent to a conference to adjust the
differences between the two Houses.
The Conference Committee, Of
which was Chairman, recommend
ed that the House of Representa-
tiveS approve the item for the Gila
Project, but when it was carried
back to the House it was rejected
in that Body by vote of 1913 yeas
to 191 nays.
I'm the Senate I again insisted on
the Gila Project appropriation, and
requested further conference with
the House. A final meeting was held,
and became convinced that the
only chance of securing favorable
action by the House lay in reducing
the amount of the appropriation
to 100000 When the Gila Project
was again taken to the House of
Representatives it was attacked by
| Mr.. Taber Of New York, the ranking
Republican on the House Committee
on Appropriations, and by other Re-
publican Congressman as an enter
; ing wedge for the adoption of
project for the reclamation of 600,-
900 acres of arid land in Arizona at
an ultimate cost of $50, 100000. Not
withstanding these violent protests
the appropriation of $70O,0 900 was