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<br />of Bonneville projeot for navigation. and for other <br />purposes: (50 stat. 731). as amended. is he:eby repealed. 11 <br /> <br />The far-reaching and uncertain effect of this section wa.s bluntly stated <br />by the Senate Irrigation and Reclu~ntion Committee in theso words: <br /> <br />~~&,. &,. <br /> <br />to the PJi11. <br /> <br />IINo one can detormino from this section what laws <br />affecting wator. and its utilization and control. <br />or for th~t matter whut laws for any othcr purpose. <br />are ropealed by this section******** <br /> <br />liThe 'operations contemplated by this Act' embrace <br />all the uses of water in the basin and adjacent <br />territory and the eeonemic. social and cultural <br />developmont of the vast area. All the laws that <br />Congress has through long oxperience and much study <br />and debate gradually evolved for tho dovelopnent of <br />tho Missouri Basin. particularly as to its water uses. <br />are eithor expressly repealed by this provision or elso, <br />like Mohammed's coffin. loft suspended in midair. sub- <br />ject to being brushed aside whenover the directors do- <br />termine that such la,w stand in the way of the 'oporations <br />contemplated by this Act.' This applies to the great body <br />of reclan'l1tion laws and to stato laws which havo boen en- <br />acted for the orderly. just, and beneficial uses of water <br />in the great regions of the Missouri Easin and adjacent <br />torritory. 'These laws. both state and Fedoral. havo <br />been crystallized by tho intorpretations of our courts in <br />many docisions, are understood by tho poople in tho area <br />involved, are proving satisfactory. and are perpotuating <br />their long-established privato and vosted rights in the <br />utilization of their wator resources.1I <br /> <br />(c) Section 29 supplies the rule of interpretation to be applied <br />It roads: <br /> <br />"Sec. 29. This Act shall bo liborally construod to enrry <br />out the purposes of Congross to provide for the disposi- <br />tion of and mako needful rules and rogulations respeeting <br />Government proportios entrusted to the Corporation. provide <br />for the national defense. improve navigation. control de- <br />structive floods, and promoto interstate comrrnrce and <br />general welfare. 11 <br /> <br />t This section is the IIclincherll assuring conplete Federal jurisdiction over the <br />~e~5urces of the Columbia Basin region, This clause means that. irrespoctive of <br />any other provision contained in the Bill to the contrary notwithstanding, any <br />question respecting tho. Corporation's powers shall be resolved in favor of the <br />complete Federal control of the water rosourees in order to provide for the <br />disposition and the making of neodful rulos and regulations respocting govornment <br />propertios und to provide fer the nntional dofense.. improve navigation, control <br />dostructivo floods and promoto interstato comrrnrce and general wolfare. These <br />all express Fedoral powers and make their exercise of paramount consideration. <br /> <br />(d) Great apprehonsion has of ton boon expressed over the powor <br /> <br />-6i!> <br />