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<br />reclamation projects for California than for any other state of
<br />the union. . . It seems to me that California is being unfair, not
<br />only with the citizens of other neighbor states but with the
<br />citizens of the rest of the country.")
<br />
<br />Up to this point things had gone pretty much as expected.
<br />But then something went awry. Rep. Walter Rogers (D-Tex.),
<br />chairman of the subcommittee which had brought out the Colo-
<br />rado River bilI, submitted an amendment to the controversial
<br />water import study provision in the legislation. It .would have
<br />limited the study to a situational report-in effect a recon-
<br />naisance-rather than a feasibility report. The study would be
<br />undertaken by a seven-member national commission and would
<br />cost $4 million instead of the $12 million estimated for a feasi-
<br />bility study. The amendment was approved 20-9. Arizonans and
<br />their friends on the committee hoped, through this device, to
<br />reduce opposition to CAP in the House and Senate, especially
<br />from the Northwest, which feared a diversion of water from the
<br />Columbia River to replenish the Colorado. But in the process
<br />they antagonized California. Northcutt Ely, special assistant
<br />attorney general heading up the California lobby, charged that
<br />the amendment broke an agreement. He said Arizonans lobbied
<br />for the amendment and failed to consult California about it.
<br />"Unless it is changed," he said bluntly, "this could mean the end
<br />of California's support of the Central Arizona Project." Rep.
<br />Harold T. Johnson (D-CaIif.) said the feasibility study was a
<br />"must." And Rep. Craig Hosmer (R-Calif.) said the amendment
<br />"not only derogates the biII but shatters the seven-state agree-
<br />ment on it." "It's quite possible," he added, "that we will decide
<br />to move for its recommittal to the subcommittee." And that, of
<br />course, would have killed the biII for that session.
<br />
<br />Representative Udal!, who had been shepherding the legis-
<br />lation through the committee, acknowledged that CAP was in
<br />"serious" danger.. "There was a failure of communication with
<br />regard to the amendment that was regrettable," he said.' And
<br />he explained, "We've all been under great strains and pressures,
<br />working almost around the clock."
<br />
<br />Keep Cool, Urges Gov. Brown
<br />
<br />The committee then deferred further consideration of the
<br />biII until the following week while efforts got under way to
<br />close the unexpected breach. Said California Gov. Pat Brown:
<br />"We should make no snap judgments or quick decisions in this
<br />momentous problem, and I am confident that California can
<br />arrive at a decision that is fair to us, fair to Arizona and good
<br />for the nation. I trust this can be done prior to the (next) com-
<br />mittee meeting."
<br />
<br />Governor Brown's reassuring words seemed to imply com-
<br />promise, and that was indeed what followed. Arizona and
<br />California agreed on a revision of the Rogers amendment to
<br />provide that the national water commission make a preliminary
<br />
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