Show AN ARID lai BILL PROPOSE THAT THE TREASURY I 1 department MAY ADVANCE NEEDED FUNDS it would than be possible to proceed with projects which have been approved and finance irrigation and drainage projects washington As a result of hear ings before a committee of congress end conferences with western senators and representatives the governors pt western states and other delegates irom the reclamation association on january 17 drafted a new bill to be introduced in congress as a substitute or all reclamation loan bills now pending it having become evident that con would not authorize an out and out loan to the reclamation fund it Is now proposed in the new bill that the treasury department may from time to time make advances to the alon fund over a term of ean up to alie aggregate of these advances to be covered by reclamation bonds which shall be issued and sold as each payment into the fund Is made the bonds will arun for fifty years bearing interest nt four and a halt per cent and be free from federal state or local tax letlon with the money so provided the secretary of the interior shall corn alete existing preparations proceed with projects which have been approved but never begun because of lack of funds and may also take up entirely new projects from all irrigation projects be used in paying principal and interest upon the bonds service men are favored tho bill further provides that the secretary of interior in expending the thus loaned may enter into auch agreements for to operation with states counties irrigation or drainage municipal corporations tate corporations or individuals as he may deem advantageous ue Is also empowered to bhend part of athla money in preparing tor cultivation of lands that are reclaimed charging the cost of this work against the land am brov ed when any new project or unit la ready for opening a preference right of entry for sixty days Is to be given to soldiers and sailors or widows of service men and such lands as are not entered during the eltty day period shall be throw n open to general entry saturday night the western governors and their associates met with the irrigation committees of senate and house and discussed in detail the draft of the bill that has been agreed upon by them saturday afternoon the governors and other delegates were alvin a joint hearing by members of the steering committees of senate und house this Is the first time a steering committee baa ever held a hearing open to outsiders to discuss ohp merits of iby legislation and senator mccumber presiding emphasized this fact but ald that in of the distinction of those wishing to be aicard toioi should take all the time they desired the hearing lasted more than two hours governor dails of idalio made the introductory speech outlining the desire of the west and explaining in a beneral way the character of legislation sought lie was followed by governors compbell Cum of arizona caroy of wyoming and former governor spry of utah through all these addresses ran an appeal tor greater operation cooperation co the federal government and the states in building of irrigation orka one theory advanced with some force was the desirability of having the federal government with funds provided by congress build storage dagg and then contract the irrigation districts or private corporations or individuals to build distributing systems and get the water out on to the land the westerners in response to questions eald it was entirely agreeable that it this plan be followed the federal reclamation service have supervisory powers over the construction of projects supplied with water from government reservoirs mien they left the capitol the governors were aware that no definite stand can be expected from the steer ing committees until bills have been reported by the senate and house tr ri gatlon committees while no promises were elicited the governors are well pleased with the courtesy shown by the beering te ering com and are in an optimistic frame of mind as regards the future in con eess |