|
<br />',G.b2'9G
<br />
<br />project. Now, said Mr. Roncalio, the chief executive was threat-
<br />ening "to tear the Upper Basin unity asunder." Governor Han-
<br />sen, said the congressman, had erroneously interpreted the bill
<br />or been badly briefed on its provisions. "Stay faithful with our
<br />good neighbors in Colorado and Utah in working for a united
<br />Upper Basin stance in support of the bill," Congressman Ron-
<br />calio admonished Governor Hansen. (The fact that the two
<br />Wyoming officials were of different parties and both contend-
<br />ing for a Senate seat may have had some bearing on the dispute.)
<br />
<br />On August 25 Secretary of the Interior Udall said in Wash-
<br />ington that there was little prospect of getting the Colorado
<br />River bill through Congress that year. "It does appear at this
<br />stage that we lire in the ninth inning, and chances are not too
<br />good for enactment this year," he said. Secretary Udall added
<br />that he was not too worried about the, approaching expiration
<br />December 31 of the moratorium on Federal Power Commission
<br />licensing of dams on the Colorado. "The fact that this is some-
<br />thing Congress is grappling with means we are much less con-
<br />cerned than we were a couple of years ago," he said. "The
<br />Arizona Power Authority possibly has had some second thoughts
<br />as well. I can't conceive of the Federal Power Commission
<br />moving in and granting licenses."
<br />
<br />Secretary Udall's statement seemed to be the death knell
<br />for CAP insofar as 1966 was concerned. Arizona newspapers
<br />sadly accepted it as such. And in Washington the director of
<br />the Arizona Interstate Stream Commission, Rich Johnson, issued
<br />a statement blaming California for bottling up the bilI in the
<br />House Rules Committee. He said the coast state didn't want the
<br />bill to go to the floor because it feared an amendment would
<br />pass to eliminate its 4.4,million-acre-foot guarantee. Congress-
<br />man Saylor was expected to offer such an amendment and to
<br />try at the same time to eliminate the two dams, said Mr. Johnson.
<br />"Through many concessions," said the AISC director, "Arizona
<br />and California reached an agreement on this legislation, but'it
<br />now appears that California is unwilling to act upon it in good
<br />faith. It isn't just the Central Arizona Project that is going down
<br />the drain. It is the 'hopes of all seven states for a cooperative
<br />effort to solve their mutual water problems. We in Arizona are
<br />saddened by the hard-nosed position on the part of our Cali-
<br />fornia friends at this critical point. We feel that they are being
<br />misled, and thereby losing the only opportunity that state has
<br />of obtaining a priority for its 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado
<br />River water. Arizona must now begin a thorough examination
<br />of its alternative water plans. We will continue the effort in the
<br />Congress to the bitter end if need be, with the hope that there
<br />is a WIiY still to be a good neighbor among the seven states, but
<br />we will find another way to solve our water problems if we are
<br />forced to do so."
<br />
<br />California Denies 'Blackjacking'
<br />
<br />Mr. Johnson's statement brought vigorous reactions. Irving
<br />Sprague, California's Washington representative, said it was
<br />
<br />-19-
<br />
<br />,.,.... ." .... ."- ....-'''-.'
<br />:"~:- ~ """'-', -:. ," :.~ -." ....- ,'.
<br />"." .,-,'...'
<br />::;::.~..; -~}:~:.~::.\. -~-~{;<~:~:,::: ~<.~:;.
<br />
<br />"'",," .
<br />
<br />. -. .,....,. . ....
<br />
<br />.- .,..........
<br />
<br />,'.'., ..... .
<br />.' ." ",.
<br />
<br />. - .'
<br />
<br />.j.' :.:.....~ '. :
<br />
<br />. - . . ......-~ :':':"~ ..
<br />
<br />
<br />rf~~~~~~~l,
<br />
<br />'::':."':,::::":;,'/,:':)';2~:"':..'.';? .
<br />
<br />," -,:,-. - .
<br />
<br />;:;.i.?::{': ~:;,:.~,:~i~tf'?';;~~ .
<br />
<br />...;....
<br />
<br />"'.,':'" ....
<br />:.; '.". .\.:.... ":0.. .: ".".:': ':~~':~::::~.:>
<br />:.:. - ..:/..:~:>.::.:.::~:~:-..,:::~)<~; :;~:~'>: :...
<br />..~~.~.-: .:. :..<. :.,::.~/....:~::.:~::::.~.:'.;
<br />\:/ >L'i.:..>:;>..:::::..;t;:
<br />
<br />(-. ".:: '.:.., :",: ,.
<br />
<br />" ".
<br />
<br />.. . ..' .:...~:..:~>-~:::\ /':.-.::':< ~'.. .::.-.
<br />..:....-....: ".... ....."..
<br />
|