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Show Denver Attorney Makes Fierce Attack Upon the Federal Reclamation Act. HOLDS IT INVASION OF THE STATE'S RIGHTS Point Is Raised in Demurrer to Suit Brought hy the Government. DENVER, Juno 10. Attacking tho fedoral reclamation act of 1902 as unconstitutional un-constitutional in a demurrer filed in tho United States district court hero today, to-day, Attorney Iloraco N. Hawkins of this city drew a picture of armed clashes between state and nation be-causo be-causo of invasion of state rights by tho government likely to come. The demurrer was overruled by Judge Lewis, but on other grounds than the constitutionality of tho reclamation act. that point being ignored by tho judge. Tho action is a suit to recover $12,-900 $12,-900 from the bondsmen of Piper Brothers, Broth-ers, contractors on tho Huntley irrigation irri-gation project in Montnnn The contractors con-tractors failed to complete tho project, and the government sued tho bondsmen. Judge Lewis holds thnt having entered .into that bond, the defendants are estopped from pleading the unconstitutionality unconstitu-tionality of the reclamation act to cscapo payment of damages thereunder. Bitter Condemnation. Attornoy Hawkins, in his demurrer, characterized the 15)02 reclamation act as tho moBt astounding pieco of logis lation over enacted bv congress. Under it tho Government had gone into the irrigation ir-rigation business by wholesale, and if it continued it would run all private irrigation enterprises out of business, and would soon be contrnctinc with towns and citios to furnish water at fixed charaos. There was nothing to prevent a. paternalistic government from condemning reservoirs owned by citios and domand that tho cities purchase water from the government; it could start smelters, ilour mills, elevators nnd similar enterprises, and drivo private capital to the wall. |