Letter from Pat McCarran (Washington D. C.) to Harry E. Miller (Las Vegas), April 14, 1954

Methinks'he doth protest too much. (He's your boy; so better go to work on him.) Remember; Mr. UP -'no easements, no bond sale April 14, 1954 proceeds, etcetera, etcetera. ' Mr. Harry E. Miller Secretary, Las Vegas Valley Water District 900 South 5th Street Las Vegas, Nevada My dear friend Miller: I am introducing the bill you sent me with your letter of April 7. Julian Moore has stressed, in a letter to me, the importance of setting not only this right-of-way but also a right-of-way for the new District water line from the point where it leaves the Lake Mead-Henderson line to Las Vegas. I am introducing also the bill he sent me March 18, with regard to granting rights-of-way to Basic Management. As a matter of fact, I think the bills as drafted may run into trouble in the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, to which they must go; because they are extremely broad. Under these bills. I think it would be possible for the District or Basic Management to demand virtually any land wanted for virtually any purpose whatsoever (including even the housing of workers) and I question whether the committee will be willing to approve such broad language. Also, I fear the bills may run into the so-called "Morse formula", which requires the payment of reasonable value for Federal land given to a local agency. However, I shall do what I can to overcome any such objection, and I think it can be soundly argued that in view of all the circumstances in this case, and the promise (or at least the implied promise) that these rights-of-way would be granted, the bills are entirely justified. I did think I should warn you that there may be troubles ahead. I am today writing the Secretary of the Interior, who will he asked by the committee to file reports on the bills, and urging him to expedite his Department's reports as much as possible, and to make them as favorable as he can. I am also addressing a letter to Senator Butler, Chairman of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, asking him to speed up handling of the bills, in his committee, and to try to help them along as much as he can. Kindest personal regards. Sincerely,