Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-01-29
PLAN RELIEF
FOR SETTLERS
BORAH IN C0NSULTA-
TON WITH DEPARTMENT TO
AID SETTLERS IN MINIDOKA
TRACT TO EXTEND PAYMENTS


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-During
the past week Senator Borah has
had several conferences with Secre-
tary Garfield and Director Newell Of
the reclamation service, in an effort
to secure some measure of relief for
settlers on the Minidoka tract.
Numrous requests have come to the
senator from representative men on
that tract asking his cooperation
along various lines. The one mat
ter that seems to demand the great
est attention has to do with passing
of title to the settler, and while CIV
ing nc little time to all phases of
the irrigation question, Senator Bo-
rah has. during the week concen-
trated hts efforts on a possible sat-
isfactory solution of the title prob
lem. The department has determin-
ed that settlers on irrigated lands
can make final proof at the end Of
five years residence If all water pay
ments are made. 1t Is represented
to Senator Borah by many settlers
that this will not lift all their bur-
den, and that additional legislation
is necessary. IT is pointed out that
many of the settlers on the north
side will have lived there four years
before having received water, and it
was declared unreasonable to expect
them in one years time to pay out
on their water contract.
From the tract come requests that
law be enacted permitting the set
tier on making proof of five years
residence, that some sort of title
shall pass to him from the govern
ment, subject to unpaid water dues
on which he can secure loan.
Fully approaching the quandry Of
the settlers and desiring that they
be given prompt and effective. relief,
Senator Borah took up with the sec
rotary of the interior and Director
Newell the various questions pre-
sented, emphasizing the necessity of
some action as to title, passage OF
which, in some form, would enable
the settler to borrow money to car
ry on his business. -t,.
The officials referred to expressed
themselves as being willing to in
dorse any play that would not jeo-
pardize the governments interests
in securing payment for water
rights. They objected to the plan
suggested from the tract on the
ground that under 1t the govern
ment would likely be compelled to
resort to the courts to foreclose liens
and take other steps that might be
detrimental to all interests. They.
urged that the only proper course
was to withhold, title until payment
had been made for the water.
Senator Borah is satisfied some
just and equitable solution can be
arrived at, and is giving the matter
much attention and thought. He
feels sure some play can be devised
that will protect the settler and Sc
cure the government against loss or
entanglements. He is working the
matter out along several lines and
hopes to soon be in position to pre-
sent some plan that will be entirely
acceptable to the government and
wholly satisfactory to the settlers.
He understands the hardships the
settlers have experienced in their
unselfish and praiseworthy efforts to
build up a great empire within the
confines of Idaho, and he will direct
his energies to the enactment of
laws that will furnish them the
greatest possible measure of relief
and encouragement.
In this work he has the hearty
cooperation of his colleagues, but as
he lives in the arid section of the
state and is, perhaps, more in direct
touch with irrigation matters than
the Northern members, he feels 1t is
up to him to take the lead in con-
nection, Herewith and to give the
subject. which IS of overshadowing
Importance, the benefit of the best
efforts. Senator Borah is member
of the committee on irrigation in the
senate, and as such will have much
to do in directing the course of leg
fislation rafarred IN that cnnotnittaa