WSP05764 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

u00190 -9- ...' Another phase must necessarily be consideredl The Color"do River, by reason of the old trepties with l1e;:ico, is recognized as navigable in all reaches of the strewn. That navigation, I em advised, has been lone since abandoned, but it nevertheless is a feature to be considered; and, second, the river foms a part of the boundary between the lower part of Arizona and Luwel' California, Republic of Hexico, and it is what miGht be termed an international river. ..' In view of those facts, it seemed advisable +"at the United States should be represented at the deliberations of the commission between the seven States; and with th.e.t end in view the bill has been drawn providing for a representative of tJ-fl United strtes to meet with the commisdoners of the States; and the original Sto_te legislation is so drawn in each of the seven St~tes. The bill provi des, as you wi 11 note, that any conpact or c.greement entered into shan not be binding or obligatory upon any of the parties thereto unless and until the ssme shall have been approved by the 1egis- lrture .of eech of said Stctes and by the Congress of the United States. In other words. if it should turn out that the seven States Were fortu- nate enough to 61rter into a common tmderstanding respecting the future disposition of the waters of this river, the acts of the commissioners in formulating and entering into th&t compaot would not be in any manner either obligatory upon the States or in any manner enibarassing to the United States, by reason of the fact that the cCJI1pact so drawn and formu- lated must be returned to the legislatures of eR.ch of the States "nd to Congress for subsequent ap proval. MR. GHAiWIER. This provides only for the consent of the Govern- ment to the making of these contracts; it in no wise obligates the Federal Goverrunellt in the matter of an eApenditure for irrigation pur- poses, nor does it bind the balance of the country to be put to the expense of carrying out the terms 0 f the contract, does it? . MR. C!,RPENTER. Not at 0.11, " MR. CHANDLER. the statute books, errnnent that these Exoepting subject to the irrigati~n laws noW upon It is merely a request for tr' consent of the Gov- States make this contract? , MR. CARPENT~R, Yes, sir. MR. CFJ_NDLER. Conoerning the waters of this river? MR. CARPENTER. Yes, sir. MR. McCHENER. The bill provides for the appointment of a United States Commissioner to meet with the governors. does it not?