Show THE M OU is PUNY WORTH washington march 7 the me BIC nary bill appropriation for development ot of irrigation and reclamation including swamp lands drainage was reported favorably today by the senate irrigation committee the committee vote for the bill was unanimous the measure has the indorsement endorsement indor of the administration having been recommended by president harding approved by secretary A B fall of the interior department part ment and promised a place on the republican legislative program under the bill irrigation projects would be formed and financed by the government but with provision tor for repayment from lands sold the secretary of the interior would fix prices for the land to finance the development work certificates on the irrigation districts would be issued by the government through the federal farm land board the bill prescribes that in the construction st of projects services of war veterans shall be used whenever possible and in the opening ot of former service men and their widows WA would have exclusive rights of entry for sixty days ito no arrangement yet has been made to bring the bill before the senate senator mcnary chairman of the committee will await a favorable opportunity and hopes to secure the passage of the bill without serious objection the mcnary bill otherwise the smith mcnary bill and officially the federal cooperative reclamation act is in part at least the result of the labors of years of agents of the western states reclamation association which was formed in salt lake about two and one halt half years ago and held its last annual meeting at the commercial club early this winter governor william spry now commissioner of the general land office nas nias the first executive secretary of the association and E F blaine of washington Is at present acting in that capacity governor D AV flavis davis of idaho has been president of the K association since its inception N safeguards provided V the mcnary bill is the evolution of g a number of measures proposed for wk the purpose of obtaining federal assistance si in the reclamation of arid lands in the west As it now stands it provides not only for irrigation but also tor for drainage and for districts and is applicable ai itt practically every part ot of the country the bill provides that a duly authorized irrigation drainage or district may petition the secretary of the interior to assist in reclamation of arid semiarid sem larid swamp or overflow lands within the limits of the district the secretary must satisfy himself that the project is feasible for reclamation and settlement that the district is properly authorized to enter into such a contract that it has proper court validation and that the owners of excess lands I 1 shall have agreed with him upon the price terms and conditions upon which he as their sole agent may sell all their excess holdings to settlers 0 no o holding it la 13 provided within the reclaimed area shall be in excess of acres and the maximum size within those limits Is to be fied fixed by the secre secretary tarT bonds to be issued the bill makes available 30 goo for the present fiscal year for the fiscal ascal year ending june 30 1923 and 55 per year tor for the five following years from the national treasury for the reclamation fund or a 4 total of provision is made that th the district asking for reclamation shall shim authorize bonds in an amount deemed to be sufficient to cover the cost of reclamation interest during con st ruction and 2 per cent commission the bonds are to carry 5 per cent interest and ba be payable in a term not to exceed forty years these are to be placed with the federal farm loan board shall marlet thorn o 0 cf pr prot in the district amounts to more than twice the total of the bonds actually issued and used stringent forfeit lire ure provisions are earned carried to protect the investors in such bonds the proceeds from the sale ot of the bonds will le the reclamation fund the secretary ot of the interior ap points a majority of the governing board of the district so long as the public lands within the district constitute more than 50 per cent ot of its area management and control of the project goes to the district when the bonds have been paid lands may be homesteaded public lands in the district may be entered under the homestead laws privately owned lands in excess of the holdings allowed by the secretary under the project shall be sold in farm units of sufficient size in the opinion of the secretary to support a family and at prices and terms as contained in the contract with the district no project Is to be approved unless so 80 per cent ot of all holdings within the district have been reduced to the maximum area established by the secretary the secretary has the disposal of the excess lands within his complete control but shall sell any unsold lands at public auction within two years after the water is available tor for the irrigation ot of the land in addition to the conditions mentioned in the dispatch tor for the benefit ot of veterans or their widows it is provided that the federal treasury la Is to heep keep up the interest payments covering rig land occupied by a veteran his widow or his minor children repayment to the treasury of the reclamation fund provided Is to begin with the fiscal year 1950 and to be in the sum bum ot of 50 50 annually |