The Coolidge examiner., 1942-07-17


ton TO claim credit for the size
able cash balance in the treasury
at close OF the fiscal year back
fred.
II is pointed out that 100000
or considerably more than half OF
the amount. was received from the
federal government as Arizona
share of revenue from power sales
at Boulder dam in lieu of taxes.
This revenue. another 100000
of which Is expected this year. was
the first tangible benefit TO be re
ceived by the state as a whole
from the Colorado River. II was
obtained through negotiations con
Quoted by the Colorado River Com
mission appointed by ex-Gov. Bob
Iones. Payments of 100000 an
nually will be made to Arizona by
the federal government until a To-
tai OF SIS 600 900 has been paid
II Is interesting TO note that
Gov Osborn asked that the iirst
payment of $500. 900 not be put IN
the treasury. that it be earmarked
for his temporarily abandoned pet
proiect-a Colorado River power
authority.
Had the present governors re
quest been granted. the surplus al
the end of the fiscal year would
have been badly dented. Also, the
new state tax rate would have
been materially increased.
Until the Jones administration
the Colorado river was pretty much
of a political football. Numerous
candidates campaigned on the Is
sue with glowing promises of great
benefits To be derived for Arizona
None succeeded in getting anything
definite for this state.
Gov. Jones gave his commission
Judge G. w Shute, Hugo Farmer
and Alma Davis-a curt order TO
get busy and get something for
Arizona"
Negotiations were Immediately
started TO obtain payments from
the federal government from Boui-
der Dam power revenues In lieu oil
taxes. Nevada's aid was enlisted
and after a long struggle involving
several trips to Washington by the
commissioners, Arizona was prom
ised $4,000 900. Payments were
dated back TO 1887 on the insist
ence of the Arizona commission
ers
Those familiar with the Colorado
river situation credit Ex-Governor
Jones and his diligent commission
with having obtained something
definite for Arizona from this great
natural resource after politicians
had been kicking IT around like
football for more than 20 years.
w. f. Policy able assistant on
the stan of Atty. Gen. Joe Conway.
is resigning the position he has
held for five and a half years 10
he a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for county attorney In
his home county OF Coehise.
Policy hung up a record while
on Conway's stan unequalied Dy
other assistants or young lawyers
in the state. He prosecuted 50 ap
peals to the Arizona Supreme
Court-47 more than any other
lawyer. He won 46 OF the ~ Grim
inal case appeals.
Control of the Arizona Industrial
Commission before the Sept.
primary appears TO be the goai OF
Gov. Osborn. according TO Col. VIII
liam Turnbow. the Phoenix Gaz-
cites capitol domer. The opinion
was ascribed to political observers
after the governor for the third
time since April 6 appointed T.
Earl Rogers. Prescott, TO the com
missionership recently vacated by
/ p. Mcbride, Tucson.
However" says the Colonel
there was a strong legal and po-
litiel possibility the maneuver
might fail" He sizes the situation
up in this manner:
First: Ind. Com. Lynn Lockhar''
whose resignation would give Mr.
Osborn control along with Rogers
annointment if il sticks - might
change his plans TO the extent MS
successor won't be selected until
after the election.
Secondly: Competent legal au-
thorities assert Rogers can't De
come a commissioner until his ap-
pointment by the governor is ap-
proved by a majority vote of the
elected membership of the Arizona
senate.
Senatorial confirmation OF
Rogers is necessary because ne
seeks a full six-year term on the
commission, although the term be
gan last Jan. S. The Arizona Su-
preme Court was quite definite on
that score in its decision, which
invalidated McBride's claim to the
$4,000 per year seat
niSinelination on the part of