Section 12
SEC. 12. Upon the final approval of the list of appropriations, according to priority, provided for in the preceding sections, there may be formed, at the desire of the majority of all the appropriators in any system, an irrigators' association, for the purpose of maintaining and operating the said system. The presidente or presidentes of the municipality or municipalities in which the land under a given system is located shall, at the request of three or more of the appropriators in such system, call a meeting of all the acknowledged appropriators in said system, for the purpose of perfecting the said association. Such association when duly organized shall have the following powers. (a) To appoint a caretaker, who shall he charged with the preservation and administration of the general system, the equitable apportionment of the waters of the stream according to the recorded list of appropriations, and the adjustment of controversies between the irrigators, in accordance with the said list, from whose decision appeal may lie to the Secretary of Commerce and Police, within the time and in the manner prescribed by the regulations, and who shall perform all other duties imposed, and have the powers conferred upon him by said regulations. (b) To issue the regulations necessary for the proper preservation and administration of the general system and for the adequate operation of the association, which regulations shall be previously approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Police to whom they shall be submitted through the Director of Public Works for this purpose as soon as possible: Provided, however, That in the event pf no objection having been made by the Secretary of Commerce and Police within sixty days after the receipt by him of the said regulations for their approval, the said regulations shall then enter into force and effect as if they had been approved by the said Secretary. (c) To compel the members of the association to contribute in proportion to the benefits derived, to the cost of preservation, improvement, and operation of the general system, the association being authorized to exercise this power in the manner established in the regulations. (d) To elect annually, on the date fixed by the regulations, a president, who shall represent the interests of the association and carry into execution the resolutions of the same. The said president shall be the ex officio treasurer of the association and shall collect from each member the assessment or assessments previously fixed for the preservation, improvement, and operation of the system, and prior to entering upon the discharge of his duties, he shall furnish bond in the sum fixed by the regulations ; and (e) To incorporate in accordance with Act Numbered Fourteen hundred and fifty-nine, entitled "The Corporation Act." The caretaker shall receive the emoluments fixed by the regulations, and the president shall not be entitled to any compensation, unless expressly provided for by the regulations.