OCR Text |
Show 200 WAR FOR THE COLORADO RIVER June 4, 1949 Gilbert F. Nelson, Deputy Attorney-general of Cali- fornia,276 Rex Hardy, Assistant City Attorney of Los Angeles,277 and Donald M. Keith, counsel for the Metro- politan Water District,278 presented more legal argu- ments in defense of California contentions. Chairman Murdock registered his impatience, and asked that the hearings be speeded up and concluded in another day. Engle reminded him pointedly that Arizona had con- sumed eighteen days in presenting its testimony. June 6, 1949 California's special counsel, Northcutt Ely, directed his testimony primarily to the issue of the availability of water for the project, and particularly to Arizona's claims, made by Carson, that all issues between Arizona and California had been predetermined in Arizona's favor by the Colorado River Compact and related docu- ments.279 During the questioning of Ely by committee members, Murdock broke in to remark that the morning was almost gone. Again showing his impatience, he asked Ely how much longer it would take him to complete his testimony. Ely said it would take another hour, not including questions asked of him. It would be hard to find another hour, Murdock said with irritation. The irritation gave way to anger, and suddenly Mur- dock asked if Ely was a registered lobbyist.280 Ely replied that he had complied with the lobby act, and added that Arizona's counsel had not. Murdock made another effort to place Ely in an unfavorable light by complaining that he had not identified himself "too fully" before the committee. Ely repeated that he was |