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OOleS? 4. It empowers the proposed Authority to investigate, con- struct and operate projects without regard to other agencies of the federal government. These agencies could participate in such activities only if requested so to do by the Authority. For nearly forty years the Bureau of Reclamation acting directly under Congressional authori- zation has oarried on a program of reolamation in full reoognition of state rights, >, 5. It authorizes and empowers the Authority to issue bonds fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States for the following and other purposes, "aoquiring, improving and operating existing oanals, oonduits, laterals, pipelines, ditohes and inoidental works and facilities, or in acquiring any interests therein"; acquiring "pri vately owned . . * * *.)rrigation propertiee wi thin the area of its operations"; ex'tending. 'oredi t to states, oounties, and municipali ties and generally doing anything whioh is deemed neceosary or appropriate to the purposes of the Act. In the case of constructicn projects, Section 15 (a), the aggregate limitation for bond issues apparently is not clear and definite, and bonds in any amount not exceeding ;50,000,000 may be issued for any single "dam, steam plant, oanal, pipe line, oonduit, or other facility". .' , . . ~J I- - , ~ , 6. It vacates, at least by implication, certain authorizations already made by the Congress for the oonstruotion of meritorious projects (in &ddition to those now under construction), while it specifically authorizes three projects not heretofore authorized by the Congress. '. 7. It is based upon the principle that the Authority shall operate primarily in the interests of interstate oommeroe for the con- trol of navigation, development of power, and control of floods. This subordinates irrigation development to the above purposes thereby impairing the rights of the states to the control, appropriation, use and distribution of water for irrigation and other benefioial purposes. Vested rights in water under the constitutions and laws of the several states, recognized by the Congress of the United States, would thus be placed in jeopardy and continued agricultural development where irri- gation is practised would be ~re~tly impaired, A~ricultural development aRd incidental industrial development have been built up under a system of water rights established and nOw recognized in the various state oonstitutions and by the Congress of the United States. .. . ,.1 !'" . I', \ · ~. c' tl~ , 110W THE~FORE BE IT RESOLVED by the conferenoe of Governors of Western States held in Denver on the 7th day of February 1941: -2-