AZ vs. CA:04 California Exhibits, Vol. IV; Nos. 151-192

page 5

The department then suggested favorable action upon the bill, in which I concur. Cordially, yours, John Barton Payne, Secretary. Hon. Chas. L. McNary, Chairman Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands, United States Senate. Department of the Interior, Washington, February 25, 1920. Hon. M. P. Kinkaid, Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands, House of Representatives. My Dear Mr. Kinkaid: I have your letter of February 18 transmitting copy of a bill H. R. 12537, with request for report thereon. The bill is entitled as follows: "A bill to provide for an examination and report on the condition and possible irrigation development of the Imperial Valley in California. You state that the bill was introduced after a conclusion had been reached that neither the Kettner bill (H. R. 11553) nor anything like it could be passed at this session. The bill proposes to authorize an appropriation not to exceed $20,000 under which no expenditure shall be made or obligation incurred until provision has been made for the payment of one-half the cost of the examination, provided by the bill, by associations and agencies interested in the irrigation of lands in the Imperial Valley. On February 16, 1918, I made a contract with the Imperial irrigation district providing for investigations, surveys, and cost estimates of an ail-American canal from