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Show DOLLARS INTO DUST 237 Indians claimed the right to a million acre-feet of Colorado River water. The question was an issue in Arizona vs. California. If the Indian claims were up- held, the total deficit in the Upper Basin would be 1,409,000 acre-feet.295 "Applesauce on Capitol Hill," retorted Rep. Dawson of Utah,296 and the figures appeared to make no more impression than this on the other supporters of the pro- ject. Nor were Reclamation Bureau blunders the cause of the first-class row that was taking place almost every day behind the closed doors of the House Interior sub- committee. The fighting was brought about by Echo Park Dam. Clearly the project's supporters on the committee had enough votes to get it out, but they couldn't muster enough to get it out with Echo Park Dam in it. The haggling and shouting went on for weeks. Chairman Aspinall, growing more desperate each day, ordered periodic recesses so that lobbyists such as Senator Wat- kins and Anderson could apply pressure to the recal- citrants. However, all efforts to break down the defenders of Dinosaur failed, and on June 9, 1955, Aspinall threw in the sponge. A vote to remove the controversial dam from the House bill passed 17 to 10. Instead of being joyous, the conservationists were openly suspicious. It was pointed out that the com- mittee had given no assurances that the dam would not be reinstated at a later date, possibly on the House floor or by the Senate and House conferees on the legislation. The fears of the conservationists were well founded. |
