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Show REPORT FAVORS IRRIGATION RILL 'Fear of Defeat of Mondell ! Measure Results in Com- S mittee Action. I J WASHINGTON", !?ept. 20. Fearful (that the Mondell soldier land reclamation reclama-tion bill will fail and that no impetus to irrigation can be had from that ! source, tl:.- state irrigation committee i today ordered a favorable report on I the Jones bill authorizing an additional i loan of two hundred fifty million dollars dol-lars to ihe reclamation fund on terms similar to the first loan of twenty million. mil-lion. Tiidcr this bill the reclamation j service will l.s aid.' to not only speed 'up work on projects still in course of ! construction but can enter upon the j building of new projects and proceed with extensions of old projects. ! Lands Open to General Entry. j The Jones bill provides solely for tlv irrigation of arid lands and no part f the "money is lo used in draining swamp lands or clearing cut-over lands. Neither is the bill primarily a soldier land bill, for under its terms the lands reclaimed are to be thrown open to general .entry, in the employment of men for construction work, however, preference is to be given to soldiers who are competent to undertake such " The report today is tlw direct result of hearings held during the past week which were opened by the delegation of Montana farmers. Director Davis of the reclamation service and others also testified to the need of additional funds if irrigalion is to be expedited. Western members of the house are still waiting forji Ivaring before the "7cont7iiucd on Pago 3, Column 3.) REPORT FAVORS ! IRRIGATION BILL (Continued From Furo One.) ways and menus enminitteo on a lull similar to the Jones bill and on utliei measures of like character which mi thori.c smaller loans. The fiylit in thi house started for a fifty million dollar loan but in view of tho action of the :.Mi:ite committee n larger amount will now be asked by western eonrressmen. Hecently a number of eastern con pressmen who opposed the Mnndoll bill have stated that they would not oppose op-pose a bill providing funds solely fni the reclamation of arid lands, but they malic it plain that they will not support a bill which provides for the purchase by the government of-vast tracts ot privately owned swamp and cut-over lands as they regard such a measuro as too much of a land-grabbing proposition proposi-tion and as affording too easy ivhet for southern owners of now worthless swamp lands. I |