| Show MENACE SEEN TO UTAH IN N COLORADO RiVER BILL Representative Robinson Halts Attempt To Cut Up-River Up States From Hearings SALT LAKE CITY Warmly praising the timely intervention o of Representative J. J W. W Robinson of Utah officials oC or the dorado River- River Great Basin Water Vater Users association association association tion called attention to the danger In railroading hearings on the Cobado Colorado Colorado Colo Cob rado ado River reorganization bill now before the House of Representatives tives in Washington The action was warmly endorsed by Senator William H. H King and Representative tive Abe Murdock 1 Representative e Robinson brust Into an irrigation committee hearing hearing hear hear- ing lug on the bill last Friday and and in a storm stormy session halted hearings which would have excluded testimony testimony mon mony from representatives of upper up- up u up upper p per r Colorado River states vitally affected by the bill Although a member member mem mem- ber her of the committee Representative tive Robinson had not been notified notified notified noti noti- fied o of the hearings a 11 fact he charged was trickery This charge was made against Representative White of Idaho committee committee committee com com- chairman and Representative tive of Nevada sponsor o of the bill in calling the hearings without proper notification The Utah congressman went even farther farther farther far far- ther as he brought these facts to light t i 1 The hill bill was introduced on March 1 26 and the hearings called for March 1 29 a 29 a time so short he lie charged that interested persons from states concerned could not reach Washington to appear appeal before the committee committe e.- e. 2 Despite this short notice the hearing room was crowded with witnesses f fro r o m California and Arizona who Representative Robinson Robin RobIn- son charged could not have gotten here after the bill was Introduced 3 Contrary to usual procedure no report on the bill had come from the tha department of the interior before before before be be- fore the hearing was called t 4 Both representatives f fro from r o m Montana 1 concurred with Mr 11 Robinson Robinson Robin Robin- son SOll In criticism oC or the bill Rebates tes Proposed Under terms of the measure large amounts would be remitted to California power users In addition interest rates would bo ho reduced effective from 1937 Finally Final Final- ly 1 the bill would authorize pay pay- payments ments to Nevada and Arizona of a year each beginning not now but nou-but but from 1927 This retro retro- retroactive retroactive active feature e tuc of the bill drew drewes- drewes especially es- es p strong fire from the Montana Montan Montana Mon Mon- tana tan delegation Of or vital importance to Utah is an any matter concerning revision of the Boulder Canyon Canon Project Act L. L H H. Kimball manager engineer of the Colorado River Great Basin Water Vater Users pointed out at his office in Salt Lake City I hope Mr 11 Kimball said that Utah people realize how Important ever every step in this important matter is to them Although the state as asa asa a whole is naturally concerned there are fourteen counties vitally Hull affected As these counties he ho listed Cache Boxelder Weber Salt f Lake ke Tooele Utah Millard l Juab Sanpete Sevier Duchesne Uintah Grand and Emery Emer This is just another move Mr Kimball emphasized to divert dhert more resources of the Colorado River basin and to attach more financial benefits to the tile lower basin basinI I states Our watersheds provide most of the water water and and so far our benefits from Crom Colorado River development development de de- have been practically microscopic I view as dangerous the current proposal for revision unless constructive protection for forthe forthe forthe the upper basin states is included If the lower states get all the water water water wa wa- wa- wa ter and we get none the permanent damage done to Utah and its neighboring neighboring neigh boring states can never be repaired Water Vater is in very truth the lifeblood lifeblood life life- blood of our state state and and the Colorado Colorado Colo Colo- rado rao River is the only source of considerable supply We Ve need pe permanent manent assurance o or of both water and power development de from this source I see no compromise with these facts Utah To Be Be Heard As a result of Representative e Robinsons Robinson's successful protest in the committee last week hearings have been delayed until this week The Utah promised that he would see that hearings are continued continued continued con con- until Utah and every other upper basin state is allowed to present present present pre pre- sent its Us views This state will be represented by br bya bra a number of witnesses Mr Kimball and a number of other capable engineers engineers en en- will attend the hearings Gus P. P P Backman secretary of or the Salt Lake chamber of commerce Is Isnow isnow isnow now on his way to Washington t to appear before the committee Final episode of Representative Robinsons Robinson's protest against the committees committees committee's committees committee's com com- action of calling the hur up ry hearing involved a Mr chief lobbyist for the bill Mr 11 attempted to placate the Utahn as the meeting broke up Instead Representative Robinson flared Oared This trickery of yours may kill your bill So far fa- faas as I am concerned I Iam Iam Iam am against it from now on I resent such an attempt to railroad this bill billin billin billin in my absence when as a member of the committee I am entitled to full notice of or what is going on You are trying to put something over on onus onus onus us and for one I dont don't Intend you OU shall get away with it You cant can't get this bill out of ot committee by bya a any y such unfair tactics |
