The Coolidge examiner., 1940-05-30
AS 1T APPEARS TO
Your Congressman

Sportsmen of Arizona have long
called for a federal fish hatchery
in our State, and the Arizona dele
cation has worked in various ways
10 obtain such. The present In
terror Bill does contain an DIP
preparation which Senator Hay
den was able to add for The
development of the fish-cultural
station on Williams Greek on the
Fort Apache Reservation. This is
a splendid beginning. While the
Interior Bill has not been finally
enacted. Sen. Hayden should be
given much credit for another be
ginning in regard to an appropria-
ton toward further survey for a
dam on the ella River below the
mouth of the San Pedro. There is
no question of the need for such
a dam. and. although there are
some internal matters which much
be adjusted in the case of build
ing such a dam. the big issue is
obtaining the funds TO build it.
Last Thursday the House Com
mittee on Irrigation and Reo.ama-
lion reported out favorably H2
909S. an act providing for a re-
adjustment of power rates at
Boulder Dam. 1t has been a matter
OF considerable controversy among
congressman. but the remarkable
thing is that the representatives
of seven basin states, the Southern
California power contractors and
the high officials of the Interior
Department came TO full accord on
the measure. The chief provi-
sions Of this bill are as follows:
The rate charged for power will
be lower than under the existing
law. and the Secretary of Interior
is directed to fix the rates in such
way as to amortize the cost of
the dam and power plant over a.
fifty year period with interest at
, per cent instead of per cent.
The flood control item of 5,000.-
600 is TO be paid back after the
close of the fifty year period with
out interest Arizona and Nevada
are to receive 100000 annually
for fifty years, beginning July l..
1887. The Colorado River De-
velopment fund is to receive half
a million dollars annually for fifty
years. Under the present law the
rates will be adjusted in 1945 and
periodically thereafter, based on
the most of steam power genera
ton. 1t is thought that under the
present law such an adjustment |
of rates on this competitive basis
would wipe out any surplus earn
ings and thus deprive Arizona.
Nevada and the Colorado River De-
velopment Fund of any subsequent
payments.
Last Thursday the House passed
the WPA bill for the first eight
months of the next fiscal year in
the amount recommended by the
President. Many amendments were
offered but few accepted. the i'm.
portant one being an amendment to
leave out the $4,000 limit on any
project. l took little part in this
long drawn out debate except to
get myself branded a "pork-bar-
reler" in voting for Ross Collins /
amendment offered to set up
fund OF sixty million dollars for
government buildings and con-
S'ruction. This was to be adj
ditional and for the purpose of
building needed post offices and
federal buildings. / pointed out
that the last official report showed
twentythree towns and cities in
Arizona in need of and eligible for
new post office buildings, and that
at the present rate of construction
it will be many years before this
need can be supplied. and that the
need in certain Arizona towns fo-
a new or enlarged quarters is I'M
perative. This amendment failed.
The House Committee on Bank
ing and Currency has been hold
ing continuous sessions on
ing continuous sessions on meas
ures asked for by the President,
and Jesse Jones has been before
the Committee for several days.
So every time | speak to Chair
man Steagall concerning a hear
ing on Billy Graham's bill, he
says "In a few days. just as soon
as some of these others are dis
posed of. I'll take care of you
boys" Our chief interest now
is the matter of national defense.