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Show REPUBLICAN RIVER COMPACT 267 Congress; 89 Gong. Rep. 3549-3551, 4534-4536 (1943); P.L. 60, 78th Congress. Printed hearings on S. 649 and H.R. 2482. On approving the biM, the President issued the following state- ment dated May 26,1943 : "I am signing the Republican River Compact bill because I believe it offers a sound solution to problems of water allocation and utiliza- tion on that stream. The procedure prescribed by the bill for the exercise of the powers of the Federal Government would not be en- tirely satisfactory in all circumstances but the prospects in fact for the exercise of such powers in the Republican basin are not great. For streams where conditions are otherwise and there appears to be a possible need for Federal comprehensive multiple purpose develop- ment or where opportunities for important electric power projects are present, I believe the Republican River Compact should not serve as a precedent. In such cases the compact and the legislation should more adequately reflect a recognition of the responsibilities and pre- rogatives of the Federal Government." Prior negotiations.-An earlier version of the Republican River Compact was signed March 19, 1941. As set out in House Document 690,77th Congress, it read as follows: "The States of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska hereinafter desig- nated as Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, respectively, desiring to remove any and all causes, present or future, which might lead to controversies with respect to use of the waters of the Republican River Basin, and being actuated by considerations of interstate comity, and by a desire to effectuate an equitable division of the waters of the Republican River Basin and the efficient beneficial consumptive uses thereof, and in consideration of the mutual advantages resulting therefrom within their respective boundaries, and pursuant to Acts of their respective Legislatures, have resolved to conclude a compact for the attainment of these purposes, and to that end, through their respective Governors, have named as their respective commissioners for the negotiating of such a compact: M. C. Hinderlider, f or the State of Colorado George S. Knapp, for the State of Kansas, and Wardner G. Scott, for the State of Nebraska, who have agreed upon the following Articles, to-wit: "article i "The Republican River Basin, hereinafter referred to as the 'Basin,' is herein designated to mean all the area in the States of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, which is naturally drained by the Republican River and all of its tributaries to its junction with the Smoky Hill River in Kansas, a map of which signed by the commissioners herein- above named, is attached hereto and by reference made a part thereof. "The Republican River and tributaries thereof within the Basin, as hereinabove defined, are not navigable, and all uses of water of a consumptive nature, as hereinafter defined, wherever such uses may occur within the Basin, shall constitute paramount uses. |