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Show RELIEF OF If ST IS TEXT OF BILL BIX PROJECTS WOULD RECEIVE AID IN PROPOSED LEGISLATION LEGIS-LATION Measure Introduced by Congressman Leather-wood of Utah Authorizing Authoriz-ing $1,500,000 For Salt Lake Basin Washington, A bill designed to re. Eeve distress among farmers on reclamation re-clamation projects in the West, along lines recommended by the special advisory ad-visory commission which investigated conditions, was introduced this week by Chairman Smith of the house irrigation irri-gation committee. Sweeping changes In the reclamation law are proposed. Representative Leatherwood of Utah, a Republican on the committee, introduced a bill which would authorize author-ize appropriations for sis irrigation projects as follows : North Platte, Xebraska-Yyoming, lor continued investigation, commencement commen-cement of construction of the Guernsey Guern-sey reservoir and incidental operations oper-ations SSOO.OOO. Spanish Springs, Nevada, ?SOO,000. Owyhee, Oregon, ?l,2o0,000. Salt Lake basin, Utah, $1,500,0000. The funds for each project to be Issued for continued investigation, commencement of construction and Incidental operations. Tale, formerly called Warm Springs, Oregon, $25,000, for continued investigation investi-gation and for first payment toward purchase of an interest in the Warm Springs reservoir. Takima, Washington, $1,500,000 for continued investigation, commencement commence-ment of construction of the Kittitas division and incidental operations. Introduction of the two bills follow, ed the transmission to congress by President Coolidge of a message, in which he recommended enactment of legislation at this session to relieve distress in the reclamation districts. The Smith bill would require the secretaries of interior, agriculture and commerce to join in approving projects pro-jects before they are authorized ; would specify that all lands must be owned by the government, and would stipulate that construction charges Bhall be based on the productive capacity ca-pacity of land and that annual Installments In-stallments be 5 per cent of the average aver-age gross income from areas improved. improv-ed. Under the bill, delinquent penalties would be reduced from 1 per cent a month to one-half of 1 per cent, the secretary of the interior would be authorized to reduce water charges if shown to be burdensome to settlers, and settlers on proven nonirrigable lands would have the privilege of exchanging ex-changing their holdings for farm lands In the same reclamation district with former service men, receiving preference prefer-ence in allotments. Profits from the sale of surplus power would be credited to the project pro-ject and a reclassification of existing exist-ing irrigation projects ordered with a view to charging off as a los3 nonirrigable nonir-rigable lands. An appropriation of S10O.000 annually an-nually for five years would be authorized author-ized to enable the bureau of reclamation reclam-ation to obtain information as to how arid, swamp and cutover timber land may best be developed to meet growing grow-ing agricultural needs. The interior department would be authorized to make short time loans from the reclamation funds to settlers. The loans would not be permitted to exceed $000 at any one time to any person and would be available for the purchase of livestock and equipment. |