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<br />~ <br />I <br /> <br />r <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />Inlld~ within its IJol'del'S, inchHlillg' the bctl:-; of strealll:'; and other <br />\\'ater8.- (Citing cases). ... .. * Tt lIlay rlet..t~l'lIIine for itself whetlwl' <br />the I~Olll1l1011 law rule in respect tn riparian l'igut:'5 01' that. doc- <br />trine whit-h obtains ill tbe uricl regions of the "'est of the appro- <br />priation of waters for tbe pUl'vo~es of irrigat.ion sball contrul. <br />COllgl'e~~ ('an not cnfol'ce either rule upon a.ny Stnte. .. ... .. One <br />ral'dinal l'ule, undl'rlrin~ all the relations of the States to each <br />otheI'~ is tlInt of the~ equality of right. Eatl1 State stands on. <br />the same Je\"el with all the rest. It can impose its own legisla- <br />tion 011 110 one of the others. and is bound to ~'ield its own \'iews <br />to none," (.Kansas v. Colorado, 206 1:'. S" 46, 87,97.) <br /> <br />In concluding the abo\"e deci~ion, the Supreme Court tlis- <br />missed the case without IJrejudice to the right of Kansas to <br />institute new lll.()teedings~ "whenever it :;;hnll apear that through <br />a material increase in the depletion of the watel's of the Arkawms <br />by Colorado" .. .. the substantial interests of Kansas are Leing <br />iI;jul"cd to the extent of destroying the cfjuitable apportiunme.nt <br />of the benefits hetween the two States resulting from the /low of <br />tbe l~ ,-er." (~UG U. S., 46, 117.) <br /> <br />The United States has large interests in the form of puhlic <br />land!"i.witbin the Colorado River area, and has already COll~trlletcd <br />large irrigation works near Yl1ll1a~ Ariz., and is engngerl in irri- <br />gation of large areas alollg the luwer portion of the strenm and <br />in tile vicintv of the Salton Sea. The seven Colorado River States <br />hm'e all'ead~" enacted legi8lation authorizing a commissioner for <br />each of the States, to meet with a representatin~ of the United <br />States, for the IHIrpose of formulating and entering into a COIn- <br />pad 01' agreement reSIJeeting the future utiliza tion aml disposi- <br />tion of tbe wateI'S of tbe Colorado Rivel' nnd its trihutal'fes, Any <br />such compact will be of no binding force or eft'ect. until ratified <br />by the legislatures of each of the States and by the Cungl'e~~ of <br />the United States. The :;;e\"en State so\'ereignties hnve legislated. <br />The gm"cl'llOl. of each has appointed a ('unH1Ii~sioller ptll'~llant to <br />the legh;Jation. The gm'eruOI"S have colledivel;v waited upon the <br />Presiuent and presented their written request for national legir-:;- <br />lation authorizing the appointment by the President of a }"C'l'l'e- <br />Rentati\"e for the United State~. <br /> <br />(Note: Since the foregoing memoralH]Ul1l was written the <br />U. S. Supreme COUl't dedded, in 'Vyoming v. C(Ilol'ado, tbat in <br />cases between two States both of which I'ct'ognize the dodllne of <br />prior appropriation as a matter of loeallaw.. the Court will apply <br />the fundamental principles uf the doctrine in the allocat.ion uf <br />the waters of a river' cumlllon to the 'h...o States and will so <br />apportion the dependable ,i:lseragc annua.l flow between the States <br />tha.t the oluer cstahliHhetl uses in lwth Stutes will ref~eive til'~t <br />protection. The doctrine so nnnollD(.'cd leaves the \Yestern Stntes <br />to n rindr:," and a eontest of Hpeed for future development. The <br /> <br />[ ~H ] <br /> <br />. <br />