| Show Irrigation still continued the theme of conversation at the chamber chamber chamber cham cham- ber of ot commerce and it was brought I out that after atter the reclamation act I had become law it was found that several others were vere necessary to aid both government and people eople so In February 1911 as I remember the Curtis act was passed by congress This act provided that the secretary secretary secretary secre secre- tary of ot the interior might withdraw or suspend public notice and might modify any existing contracts with respect to projects under way be before before before be- be fore that time It was pointed out that the real effect of the act was to extend leniency and relief to I those on projects who appeared un unable unable unable un- un able to meet obligations which the I provisions of the reclamation act had placed upon the users Again the fact finders were sought for additional information and it was learned from them that while the principal Intention of the original reclamation act was to supply water to public lands lands lands' the homestead entry being particularly and pointedly mentioned that It was soon ascertained that under the projects had been irrigated large areas of ot lands which had been taken up by the earlier settlers some of which were already under Irrigation from smaller irrigation systems which had been constructed construct construct- ed by private capital and it became necessary therefore tl m the very beginning of or the plan to provide water not only for the public lands but to private lands lying under the projects authorized by the the government WARREN ACT It was then found say the fact tact factfinders factfinders finders that on some projects a surplus of ot water had been developed over and above that n needed eded by the lands formerly belonging to tp the project project project pro pro- which was needed by partially Irrigated lands under private systems The result was the enactment enactment enactment enact enact- ment of the Warren act which was approved In February 1911 Under this act it was provided that such surplus waters might be sold for tor supplementary purposes to adjacent and nearby lands which was an ex extension extension extension ex- ex tension both In practice and principle principle pIe of ot the original act but which kept In mind the essential purpose pur pur- pose All this however howe r did not meet the objections that were being made by the settlers and users users' along the several projects and in 1915 Secretary Secretary Secretary Secre Secre- tary Franklin K Lane after atter hearIng hearing hearing hear hear- ing all alI the arguments and grievances grievances grievances ances which were presented by the water users' users organization secured the passage by congress of ot what was called the extension act The effect of ot this act was to cover all then thea existing obligations to the tho government government government gov gov- if It desired by the water ater users and place them In a new construction account of ot which 2 per percent percent percent cent was to b be paid each of ot the first four years 4 per cent for each of the next two years and 6 per cent for each of or the following fourteen years rears making the total graduated payment of ot twenty years V The fact tact finders t then en pointed out that this extension act also failed tailed to take Into account the var varying costs of the different productive capacities of the projects or of ot different different dif dit- ferent classes of ot lands within the projects RELIEF EXTENDED With all this it was particularly af after er the World war var difficult to get get those on the projects to meet their payments hence additional legislation legislation legisla legisla- tion was necessary and on May 17 1921 March 31 1922 and February 28 19 1923 3 congress passed the legislation legislation legis legis- lation It was believed needed This legislation was called leniency acts and provided that the secretary of the interior might defer payments then past du due but no permanent remedy was offered or suggested |
