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<br />COr..{PAOTS AND AGnEEMENTS BETWE~N CERTAIN STATES. 9
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<br />'The bill provides, as you will note, that any compact or agreement
<br />entered into shall not be binding or obliga(:ory upon any of the
<br />parties thereto unless and unlil the same shall have been approved
<br />by the lc/.(islature of each of said States and by the Congress of the
<br />United S(,ates, In other words, if it should turn out that the seven
<br />States wcrc fortunat.e enough t.o cnter into lL common understanding
<br />respecting: the future disposition of t.he waters of this river, the
<br />acts of the commissioners in formulating and entering into that com-
<br />pact would not be in Hny ma,nncl' either obligatory upon the States
<br />or ~'F1 r ,J embarrassing to the United t;ta.tes, by reason of the
<br />het tha,t the cOlnpact so drawn and formulated 111 lIst be returneu to
<br />the legisla.tures of each of the States and to Congre.s~ for subse-
<br />quent aJ?proval.
<br />MI'. CIJANDLER. This provides only for the consent of (,he Govel'll-
<br />ment to t.he making of these contracts; if, in no wise obligat~s the
<br />.Federal Government ill the matter of an expenditure for irrigaticl1l
<br />purposes, nor does it hind the balance of the country to be put to the
<br />expense or c:urying out the terms of the contrad, does it?
<br />Mr, CAllPENTF.R, Not I1t all.
<br />Mr, CHANDLER, Excepting subject to the irrigation laws now upon
<br />the statu!.e books, It is merely a request for (,he consent of the (...ov-
<br />emmen!. that these States make this contract?
<br />Mr. CARPEN'l'BR. Yes, sir.
<br />Mr, CnANDLEH, Coneerning the waters of this river?
<br />Mr. CARPENTER. Yes, sir.
<br />Mr, MICHENER, The bill provides for the appointment of a United
<br />States Commissioner to meet with the governors, docs it not?
<br />Mr. CAH.PENTER, Yes, sir.
<br />MI'. MICHENEH, Have you in any way contemplated what expense
<br />there would he connecled with th"t'l
<br />Mr, CARPENTEH, It is very h"rd to forecast just what the expense
<br />will be; it will depend largely upon the extent of the deliberations,
<br />But the exgense would be limited, in comparison with the interests
<br />,invol1'ed, 11 or ex"mple, Colomdo in her bill sets "part an "ppropri,,-
<br />tion for this, among other purposes; and as regards this particular
<br />purpose it is provided that Colomdo shall not only pay the expcnses
<br />of her commissioner, but shall likewise pay her equitable portion of
<br />the expenses of the joint commission, Some of the, other States have
<br />not directly so lcgislated; but doubtless they would pay their eqni-
<br />table proportion of the eosts of the j~~~~f>>>>ission, So that the ex-
<br />pense to the United States would be ;.'illat of the compensation
<br />of the commissioner or representative of the United States,
<br />Mr, GOODYKOON'rz, The bill is silent as to the compensation of the
<br />commissioner, is it, not?
<br />1\11', CAHPENTER, It is,
<br />Mr, GOODYKOONTZ, Do you not think it would be necessary 01' ex-
<br />pedient to undertake to fix his compensation in tIle measure?
<br />Mr, CAHPENTEH, I am not familiar with your procedure in the
<br />matter of national appropriations.. It was thought and suggested by
<br />seveml members of Congress that the matter of the compensation
<br />could, and probably should, be fixed in a subsequent bill, 01' in some
<br />appropriation bill,
<br />Mr, :MICHENER, I can see that, But to me it seems very important
<br />to know what expenses legislation of this kind will ultimately bring
<br />nhfllll: Tf WA .c.:imnlv !lllt.h(wi7A t.hA flnnnintnlAnt. "f Jl (>()In'nH,:~-io)nor
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