Los Banos Rotary Club History
Kaljian Tells Of San Luis Hearing

Charles Kaljian, local automobile dealer and president of the San Luis Water District, Tuesday noon told members of the local Rotary Club some of the highlights of the recent congressional committee hearings held in Washington, D. C. on the proposed San Luis Project.

Reminding his listeners that despite the obviously favorable attitude of the committees there still remains much work and effort and probably intense continued opposition by southern California interests, he said the overall outlook for proposed federal construction of initial portions of the project seems much more favorable that it did two months ago, especially with the support being given the proposal by Governor Goodwin Knight and the state engineer's office.

Kaljian praised the support being given this area by Senator Kuchel and Congressman Sisk, and pointed out that especially on the part of Senator Kuchel such support was given freely in the face of the strong and politically dangerous opposition of southern California.

In respect to the opposition, Kaljian said that on the part of Los Angeles and nearby areas it is purely a selfish attitude designed to force the rest of California into a position that eventually would mean the entire state would partially be paying for the water supply used in the south part of the state.
Kaljian said the California Grange had been most helpful and cooperative with this area at the hearings, but that by contrast the Farm Bureau was working on the opposite side and did a lot of harm.

He explained Kern County's opposition attitude as partially misunderstanding and also the fact they were "asleep" during the past several years when all other sections of the Valley were working on the project. Original plans, he said, included Kern County water needs but then the water was more plentiful and the people complacently ignored the invitation of this area to join in the effort to bring new irrigation waters to the west side. Now, Kaljian declared, they have lined up with Southern California interests under the guise their interests were previously ignored.

Of his personal side of the trip, Kaljian said it had been most interesting and enjoyable, including a brief sight-seeing tour around the capital, a major league baseball game, and the educational opportunity to watch the governmental machinery of our country at work.

June 8, 1956

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