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Show WESTERNERS DRAFT AN ARID LAND BILL PROPOSE THAT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT MAY ADVANCE NEEDED FUNDS. It Would Then be Possible to Proceed With Projects Which Have Been Approved smd Finance Irrigation and Drainage Projects. Washington. As a result of hear, ings before a committee of congress and conferences with western senators sen-ators and representatives the governors of western states and other delegates i'rom the reclamation association in January 17 drafted a new bill to be Introduced in congress as a substitute for all reclamation loan bills now ponding. It having become evident that congress con-gress 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 reclamation reclama-tion fund, over a term of years, up to the aggregate of $250,000,000. These advances to be covered by reclamation reclama-tion bonds which shall be issued and sold as each payment into the reclamation recla-mation fund Is made. The bonds will run for fifty years, bearing interest at four and a half per cent, and be free from federal, state or local taxation. tax-ation. With the money so proVded, the secretary of tlie interior shall complete com-plete existing preparations, proceed with projects which have been approved, approv-ed, but never begun, because of lack of funds, and may also take up entirely entire-ly new projects. Receipts from all government irrigation projects shall be used in paying principal and interest upon the bonds. Service Men Are Favored. The bill further provides that the secretary of Interior, In expending the money thus loaned, may enter Into such agreements for co-operation with states, counties, irrigation or drainage districts, municipal corporations, private pri-vate corporations or individuals as he may deem advantageous. He Is also empowered to spend part of this money in preparing for cultivation of lands that are reclaimed, charging the cost of this work against the land improved. im-proved. When any new project or unit is 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 net entered during the sixty-day period shall be thrown open to general entry. Saturday night the western governors gover-nors and their associates met with the Irrigation committees of senate and house and discussed in detail the draft of tlie bill that has been agreed upon by them. Saturday afternoon the governors and other delegates were given a joir.t hearing by members of the steering committees of senate and house. This is the first time a steering committee com-mittee has ever held a hearing open to outsiders, to discuss the merits of ify legislation, and Senator McCumber, presiding, emphasized1 this fact, but said that In view of the distinction of those wishing to be beard, they should take all the time they desired. The hearing lasted more than two hours. Governor Davis of Idaho made the Introductory speech outlining the desire de-sire of the west nnd explaining in a general way the character of legislation legisla-tion sought. He was followed by Governors Gov-ernors Campbell of Arizona, Carey of Wyoming and former Governor Spry of Utah. Through all these addresses ran nn appeal for greater co-operation between the federal government and the states in building of irrigation works. One theory advanced with some force was the desirability of having the federal government, with funds provided by congress, build storag dams and then contract with the stales, 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, ques-tions, said It was entirely agreeable that If this plan bo followed the federal fed-eral reclamation service should have supervisory powers over the construction construc-tion of projects supplied with water from government reservoirs. When they left the oapltol, the governors gov-ernors were nware that no definite slaiul can be expected from the steering steer-ing committees unlit bills have been reported by the senate and house Irrigation Ir-rigation committees. While no promises were olioilod, (he governors are well pleased with the courtesy shown by the steering committees, com-mittees, nnd are In nn optimistic frame of mind as regards (he future In congress. |