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00062R I am only half joking when I oversimplify by stating that five states joined the Council to try to get additional water; five states joined the Council to try to retain the water they presently have, and the eleventh state joined to protect its interests in both directions, I should like, at this time, to say a word about our staffing situation. Regardless of any rumors you may have heard, we are not going out of business, We have reduced our staff in size, but this has been done as a result of our experience that the committee approach to our problems is the most effective way of achieving involvement and communication among our members, It is relatively easy to assign a problem to a staff and to approve a staff-generated report, But in an area where real visceral controversy abounds, I, for one, believe that real, honest respect for the man on the other side and for his position, best results from the type of face-to-face confrontation afforded by the committee technique. The "Statements of Principles, Standards and Guidelines" referred to earlier were hammered out by days of argnment, out of which grew. realization of the mutual problems and concerns of all of our western states, and there is no participant in those negotiations who isn't a wiser and more knowledgeable spokesman for Western water rights as a result, Therefore, for a time, the staff will be reduced, and I am sure you are pleased by the resulting savings in cost. But we respectfully serve notice that, when needs justify an enlargement of the staff,' we will turn again to you for approval of the necessary budgetary adjustment. I am pleased to report that each state will be called on for only a fraction of previous assessments, Arrangements whereby these funds can. be made available. early in our fiscal year will be helpfuL The Congress passed the 1965 Planning Act prohibiting study or planning water transfers between river basin commissions; in the same year, the eleven Western Governors formed a Water Council whose function it is to undertake continuing review of such transfers, It is fortunately the nature and inherent good judgment of the American people, when faced with such a clearcut political dilemma, to explore, identify and develop means for moving ahead or around toward ultimate long-range objectives, without being stopped cold and adopting a do-nothing attitude, We are confident that the Western States Water Council will be a most helpful vehicle in assisting the West to move ahead toward a solution to the serious problem of assuring adequate water for future growth and development of the West. - 30 - '. ", ~~.~;oc$jl?~'-"~'./:~:;'~'!o6".:~',;