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FDR vetoes Republican River Compact
Since Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska are again or are still embroiled in controversy over the waters of the Republican River, the discussions in the 1942 Gazettes about the tri-state Republican River Compact have been especially interesting. The last I knew, the whole issue was headed to court again next January. I understand they are still trying for some sort of a settlement before that time and I certainly hope they can find a solution.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt vetoed the three-state Republican River water pact on April 2, 1942, saying that it did not permit the United States to reserve rights and responsibilities "which it now has in the use and control of the waters of the basin."
The tri-state water compact was between Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado and was "negotiated by the three states with a view to apportioning the waters of the Republican basin for irrigation and related uses." In his veto message, Roosevelt also said, … it appears to restrict the authority of the United States to construct irrigation works and to appropriate water for irrigation purposes in the basin."
On April 3, 1942, M.O. Ryan, secretary of the Republican Valley Conservation Association, which Gazette publisher Harry Strunk headed up, explained the issues involved by releasing a statement to the press. "Many western states, when drafting their state constitutions, reserved to the state full jurisdiction over all streams within their boundaries. Congress then ratified these constitutions, apparently insuring, for all time to come, state control of water resources in the west."
Ryan went on to explain that all interstate commerce falls within the jurisdiction of the national government, though. Whenever a river is made navigable or is a tributary to a navigable stream, "legal interpretation might declare that the interstate commerce clause would provide for federal jurisdiction. The provisions of state and U.S. constitutions are seen, therefore, as in conflict."
Without bringing up Sen. George Norris' name, Ryan then refers to the Tennessee Valley Authority as offering one possible answer to this situation. In TVA, Ryan said, "an authority was created by order of Congress which transcended all state rights, with the administrators of the Authority appointed by, and responsible only to, the president." Mr. Ryan put forth that, "the nation as a whole is not yet ready to surrender all jurisdiction to the federal government." That's why subsequent TVA-type bills over the Arkansas, Missouri and Columbia rivers had not made it through Congress. It was always the problem of state vs. federal regulation that remained unresolved.
"Seeking to contravene this troublesome problem once and for all, the Republican River compact commissioners declared the Republican River 'non-navigable' with the waters to be dedicated to 'beneficial consumptive purposes'." The legislatures of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado all ratified this agreement as did congress but President Roosevelt vetoed it. And so … the battle continues as I write this, almost 60 years later.
There was another short Gazette article on the parachute riggers school planned for McCook. It seems that some of the prospective students were afraid they would also have to learn to parachute from a plane but organizer Faye Lucille Cox stressed that they would never have to leave the ground. She explained that the rigger only packed, repaired and inspected parachutes on the ground. The April 2, 1942, Gazette continued, "Every 'chute must be unpacked and inspected and repacked every 60 days, whether it is used or not. Every Army and Navy flier must wear a 'chute in the air. It requires about 45 minutes, she said, to pack a 'chute." The first record I've found of troop trains through McCook since starting in March of 1942 was in the April 3 Gazette. McCook people contributed magazines and made them available to men in the armed forces on troop trains passing through McCook. The fact that they were appreciated by the soldiers and sailors was contained in postcards and notes received frequently by the Elks club in McCook.
Ed F. Peterson, who had charge of the Elks' program of gathering, sorting and bundling of magazines to be placed aboard troop trains, told the Gazette that two such cards were received the previous day. One of the postcards had been signed by 20 men.
Merrill Ream came trotting across Norris Park this week toting a copy of my column from last week and an absolutely huge pair of scissors. He pointed out his mother Dorothea Ream in last week's photograph … sitting at the middle sewing machine of the parachute makers at the McCook Army Air Base north of town. The scissors were hers that she used while working there. Gwen Stevens Brooks of McCook is Dorothea's daughter.
"Mrs. Russell Southard and son have returned home after spending about 10 days in Hastings visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Hunter. Mr. Southard drove to Hastings Sunday to accompany them home." This items in the Personals was in the April 1, 1942, Gazette and I sent it to Steve Southard, long-time McCook businessman, now living in Seward.
It's so fun to dredge up these memories of visits to grandma's house and long lost recollections for so many people. Many thanks to the man who sent me a beautiful rose last week with just "thanks for the article" attached. I'm enjoying this walk down memory lane as much as any of you who lived it!
An ad for the Studio Apartments on McCook's Main Street, 309 Main, advertised that "Incinerator, janitor and laundry" were free when you rented from them. A furnished apartment at 604 East Third Street rented for $18! If you were interested in a like-new, four room duplex you could enquire at the Temple (Theatre) newsstand. Boy do things change fast in a war situation! Less than one year later in McCook it was almost standing room only as people vied for living space ... I'll try to hurry a little faster to get us to that point but I thought it would be interesting to see the "pre-McCook Army Air Base" McCook. What a change was coming for McCook Main Street and the whole area.