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Show u . I Gcin. Easy on Reclamation Farmers WASHINGTON'. Acting on atl-Ihnrily atl-Ihnrily of the' I'n-sidi-nt, Secretary Sec-retary Work- has ordered the superintendents of all reela-malion reela-malion projects to construe liberally the I'hlpps act, recently enacted to relieve re-lieve the western settlers by further deferring charges due the government. Fail uru of congress to enact legislation legisla-tion recommended by Secretary Work's fact-lindlng commission, which provided for the writing off of more than $27,000, IMX) owed the government by reclamation farmers and for a more scientific method of repayment, dictated dic-tated the action. It Is believed that It. will protect all settlers ugalnst foreclosure fore-closure during the coming season, pending the passage of permanent legislation. leg-islation. Kegulatlons covering the deferment of charges under the I'hipps bill already al-ready have been Issued by the bureau of reclamation, In which simplified rules of procedure for obtaining relief by settlers as well ns water users' associations as-sociations are outlined. Those water users who hnve credits and assets enabling them to pay all or part of their obligations will be expected to do so, while those not able to pay, but who Indicate Intention to carry out their contracts by work on the projects will be treated sympathetically. sympa-thetically. President Coolidge transmitted the report of the fact-finding commission to coiiL'ress April 21, saying among oi her things : "The facts developed by the special advisory committee show that of the government's total Investment $18,-SCl.Tld $18,-SCl.Tld will never be recovered. There will be a probable loss of an additional ?S,.S:!0,0KJ. These sums represent expenditures ex-penditures in the construction of reservoirs, reser-voirs, canals, and other works for the Irrigation of lands that have proven unproductive. I recommend that congress con-gress authorize the charging off of such sums shown to be Impossible of collection. collec-tion. ISeeause of high rates of Interest Inter-est nnd other agricultural difficulties existing fanners are often unable to borrow money for temporary relief. The establishment of a credit fund by the government from which farmers on projects may secure capital to make permanent Improvements, buy equipment equip-ment and live stock, should be considered. con-sidered. More than "0.1)00 water users are affected by the present serious condition. Action Is deemed Imperative Impera-tive on the part of the present congress, con-gress, that their welfare may be safeguarded." |