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Show 270 INTERSTATE COMPACTS States, its agencies, or instrumentalities to taxation by any State, nor to create an obligation on the part of the United States, its agencies, or instrumentalities, by reason of the acquisition, construction, or opera- tion of any property or works of whatsoever kind, to make any pay- ments to any State or political subdivision thereof, State agency, municipality, or entity whatsoever in reimbursement for the loss of taxes, nor to subject such property to the laws of any State if such laws do not otherwise apply. "(b) The Commissioner of Eeclamation and the Director of the United States Geological Survey shall cooperate, ex officio, with the officials of the signatory States referred to in article IX of the compact in the execution of the duty of these officials in the collection, correla- tion, and publication of water facts necessary for the proper adminis- tration of the compacts, and may perform such other services related to the compact as may be mutually agreed on with the said officials of the signatory States. "Sec. 3. The consent of the Congress is hereby given to the States of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska to negotiate and enter into a com- pact amending the Republican River Compact: Provided, That a suitable person shall be appointed by the President of the United States to participate in said negotiations as the representative of the United States and to make report to Congress of the proceedings and of any compact or agreement entered into: Provided further, That such amendatory compact shall not be binding or obligatory upon anv of Ithe parties thereto unless and until the same shall have been ratified by the legislature of each of said States and by the Congress of the United States. "Sec. 4. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to impair or affect any right of the United States to regulate interstate commerce or the jurisdiction of the United States in and over the waters of the Republican River Basin as defined in said compact, as navigable waters or otherwise; and the consent of Congress hereby given is with the express reservation that it does not constitute an admission or dec- laration by Congress that the Republican River and tributaries thereof within the Republican River Basin as so defined are not navigable." These sections were deleted by the Senate and there was substituted a new section 2 which "expressly reserved" the "right to alter, amend or repeal" the Act. The amendment was accepted by the conferees of the two Houses and the bill, thus amended, passed. See H.R. 5945 and. S. 1361, 77th Congress; House Reports 1380 (Committee on Irri- gation and Reclamation) and 1878 (Commdttee of Conference) and Senate Report 841 (Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation), 77th Congress; 87 Conq. Bee. 9268-9269, 9550-9551. 9553-9554, 9558, 9606. 9624 (1941), 88 Gong. Rec. 2408-2409, 2813-2814 (1942). In his veto message (House Document 690, 77th Congress) the President said: "To the House of Representatives. "I return herewith, without my approval, H.R. 5945, a bill granting the consent of Congress to a compact entered into by the States of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska with respect to the use of the waters of the Republican River Basin. |