DESERT BOARD

SEEMS JEALOUS

_

KAY WONDERS WHERE

JURISDICTION IS.

_

Thinks Order of Public Service Commission Encroaches On Board’s Rights — Engineer Lewis Says No Conflict Exists

_

(Oregonian.)

SALEM, Or., Dec. 31 — Whether the assumption of jurisdiction by the Public Service Commission over the affairs of the Central Oregon Irrigation Company brings about a conflict with the Desert Land Board’s control of that project was a question arising at a meeting of the Desert Land Board today, when State Treasurer Kay sharply expressed the opinion that “if the Commission can do the things its order says it can do he would be willing to recommend giving complete jurisdiction over the project to that Commission.”

The Commission Saturday issued an order requiring the irrigation company to install a number of improvements in connection with the furnishing of water for irrigation purposes and also to submit a plan for future distribution of water.

The company is under contract with the state through the Desert Land Board to handle the water in a certain manner.

Question of Jurisdiction Raised.

“Before I go any further in taking any action in connection with the Central Oregon project I wish to know who has jurisdiction over it,” continued the state treasurer. “Personally I think the affairs of the project are none of the commission’s business. I know we have been attempting for the past eight years to get some of the things done which the Commission seems to be able to put on paper in a single order, and the (words missing) Commission can accomplish (words missing) it is welcome to the (words missing).

State Engineer Lewis expressed the opinion that there is no conflict as a result of the commission’s order, but rather that the order is supplementary to and based upon the contracts between the Desert Land Board and the company.

The board also designated Attorney-General Brown and State Engineer Lewis as a committee to confer with J.E. Morson to see if some mutual agreement cannot be reached for the completion of the Deschutes Irrigation Company’s project near La Pine.

_

OATS SALES MAKE

RECORD IN PORTLAND

_

PORTLAND, Jan. 2. — Oats sold today at $57 per ton in Portland. This is the highest record ever reached in this city.