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Show -158- water supplies of Colorado River and its tributaries, and especially in connection with a law then proposed by Secretary Lane relating to soldiers* and sailors1 settlement, Hon3 Wo J, Spry, ex-Governor of Utah, present Commissioner of the General Land Office, presided.over the meeting and was made permanent chairman of a continuing organization*, The other Colorado River Basin States, above noted were represented. The meeting of the seven States resolved itself into a permanent organization to be known as "The League of the Southwest,1' As a result of the sessions the following resolutions, inter alia,, were adopted: "Attention is further directed to the fact that many of thes- irrigation projects, of a magnitude to be developed only by the Federal Government, can be properly carried on without interfering with smaller developments which should be undertaken by individual and corporate i.r.Vbiative3 and we therefore urge upon the Interior and Agricultural Departments the adoption of a liberal and sympa- thetic policy in the granting of rights of way for reservoirs and ditches upon the public domain, where the same are essential to the development of such private projectsc "We further urge the liberal administration of alii, land laws of the United States looking to the end of placing the lands of the United States in the actual possession end occupation of its citi- zens in order that the citizens may have a horn© and that the lands- may go upon the tax rolls of the various States in which they may be located in order that they may bear their just proportion of the expense of State administration. "Along the lines set forth in these resolutions,, we pledge o selves to a hearty cooperation with the representatives of the Feder Government in order that the desired end may be attained at the ear- liest possible moment consistent with a wise administration of the affairs of the Nation and of the States, "In the carrying out of all reclamation projects in which th Federal Government may become interested, its activities should ever be in conformity with the laws of the State in which the project under development is located. In the arid States of the West the irrigation projects undertaken by or with the aid of the Federal Government should in every instance.be based upon a full compliance with the laws of the State wherein the projects are located so far as the appropriation of water and other matters of purely State control are concerned»ff Subsequent meetings of the league were held at Los Angeles where resolutions of a similar character were adopted^ |