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<br />155 <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />question of the reservation of federal riGhts generally in this compact. ' <br /> <br />don 't think vre ought to drop the subject without consideration. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Nm~ RUiBLE: Mr. Chairman, I would propose to the full Commission an <br /> <br />article for this compact v[hich as a member of th8 c1raftine; committe8 I <br /> <br />presented to that conunittee, which was rejected by the c1r::li'tine; committee. <br /> <br />It will be entitled, "Rights of the United States," and Trould read as follovrs: <br /> <br />IlThis compact is made subject to all 8xist:ing r:L(3hts of tto United <br />States, which riGhts shall not b8 affected by tho consent or <br />approval of this compact by the UnH8d StD.t8S, any thine; horein <br />to tho contrary notTrithstanding." <br /> <br />!Jembers of the Commission 11,w8 often suggested the adVisability of <br /> <br />following with fidelity the act of Congress of August 19,.1921, and I would <br /> <br />call attention to the fact that this statute expresses nith certainty the <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />following: that the United States has valuable interests in the Colorado <br /> <br />River Bas-in which must be protected in the proposed compact. The Act <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />authorizes a substantial appropriation Md the l1ilming of a representative <br /> <br />to provide for the protection of those interests. <br /> <br />If the United States has in fact no interests in the Basin which shculd <br /> <br />be protected i.n the propesed compact, then the federal appropriation and the <br /> <br />federal representative are but idle gestures frem a national standpoint. It <br /> <br />seems to me to follov,~ that if we are to carry out the pl,d~1 intent of <br /> <br />Congress this compact must contain an article protec.lcing those interests <br /> <br />which the statute dirocts shall be protected. The compact as nOTr proposed <br /> <br />contains no such article. <br /> <br />The United Statos is the largest land OTmer rrithin th8 Colorado River <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Basin, also it is the largest onner of irrigable lanel thorein, for the <br /> <br />reclamation of nhich this compact is proposed. It has already constructed <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />in the BasD1.irrigation works of the value of many millions ef dollars and <br /> <br />proposes the expenditur13 for irrigation purpeses of ll'anj millions more, <br /> <br />These operatiens are carried en, not to the derregation of the states involved, <br />