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Show THE THREE-RING CIRCUS 161 granted to make the United States a party to a suit about to be commenced?" "I think that is true," Murdock answered. "But," Keating said, "we are not asked in any of them, are we, to pass on the merits of the controversy in any way between California and these other states?" It was obvious that Murdock either did not consider himself qualified to argue, or he had been instructed not to argue. He replied with studied vagueness that he thought the merits of the controversy might be in- volved. Keating demanded to know how, but Murdock did not explain. He expressed the belief the issues were not justiciable, and the resolutions would interminably delay developments on the river. Keating next wanted to know if there was any pros- pect of settling the controversy without going to court. Murdock thought laws passed by Congress could settle it. Next Keating referred to the compact recently signed between the Upper Basin states, and wanted to know if there had been any effort to make a Lower Basin com- pact between California, Arizona and Nevada. There had been, Murdock told, some such efforts made during the past twenty-five years. Several persons in the audi- ence laughed. It was the most extreme understatement heard in all hearings thus far held. For more than a quarter of a century California and Nevada had ex- hausted every effort to find a basis on which the three states might agree. Murdock said nothing about Ari- zona's repeated refusals to negotiate, to arbitrate, to litigate, but this history would be brought out by Cali- fornia attorneys. Keating declared he held the impression that to ap- prove the resolutions would expedite a settlement. Mur- |