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Show THE THREE-RING CIRCUS 163 Keating said. "The thought occurs to me that if reason- ably learned men on both sides do read it [the compact] differently and interpret it differently, that that is the purpose for which we have the courts, to reach a con- clusion as to the true meaning of the law which has been enacted." Murdock retired with a look of concern on his face. He had not enjoyed the attitude of Keating, Lane and Denton. The staff of the Judiciary Committee had suggested that it would not be necessary to hold formal hearings on the resolutions, and had asked that the parties on both sides file a summary of testimony taken in the previous Congress on the same matter. California and Nevada filed a joint brief, but Arizona had refused to do the same and had insisted on full-dress hearings. California also had suggested that one congressman from each side appear to summarize the case, but neither was this procedure agreeable to Arizona. The California- Nevada brief, important to an understanding of the legal problems of the controversy, is in Appendix g. One by one California congressmen appeared before the committee to argue in support of the resolutions. Suddenly Keating took note that hearings on the project bill also were under way before the House Interior Com- mittee. As if he did not like the situation, he suggested that by holding hearings simultaneously the House Interior Committe was seeking to bring the project bill "before Congress before we can report out this bill." Rep. Hinshaw told him he was correct, and added that members of the California congressional delegation had never been advised officially that hearings were to be held before Murdock's subcommittee. |