Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-12-04
One Month Grace
Then Uncle ShyIOck Will
Demand His Pound
of Flesh.

Encouraging reports DRIFT in fr0m the
siinidoka project 20 TIRE effect that
about seveuty-fve or eighty per cart
Of The settlers on the north side made
their first wafer payments BY the first
Of December, and their claims are safe
for another year from cohfscation By
the arbitrary ruling Of Secretary Gar
field. What viii become Of those who
failed 70 meet their payments remains
10 be seen OF these. a part were total
ly unable 70 raise the money, and some
might have made the necessary pay
ment but It would have left them with
out any means 70 put IN crop next
spring or 10 make the improvements re-
quired by law IN order 70 prove up ard
secure title within the time limit
Senator Borah IS deeply interested IN
the matter and the case may be taken
direct to the president or a relief bill
introduced in congress.
What makes the ruling Of Secretary
Garfield seem 50 Unjut and cruel IS the
fact that II reverses the ruling or his
predecessor. Secretary Hitchcock, who
informed the settlers that their first
water payments would become due On
December ist Of the year In which
water was delivered IN April
As . matter Of fact water was not
delivered In April OF even Nay. 1897,
and according TO the Instructions or
rulings Of Secretary Hitchcock the first
water payments were not due till Dec.
ist, 1905. and the law allows the settler
another year in which 70 meet them be
fore being delinquent
The report Is common that many Of
the settlers who have made their pay
neuts have done 50 by sacrificing every
thing they possess. and II leaves them
without sustenance for the winter ard
+ without seed ard teams 20 make a crop
Z next season
+ It might Be . bad precedent for the
/ government reclamation service backed
+ by tee secretary Of the interior 70 deal
justly with the settlers, ard Il may be
good policy 70 raise a few extra dollars
by torturing them outof needy settlers.
contrary 70 The spirit Of tee law. but
( the great common people viii view the
matter in another ight.
The sense Of Justice and fairness IS
strong in the breasts Of the American
people and no government official can
afford 20 ignore It.
The latest ruling from the Secretary
of the Interior made since Dee. lst, IS
u the esfecs that those settlers on the
Min.doka tract thar are delinquent on
zheir first water payments VIII he given
one month of grace. providing no CON
+ test Is entered or the lard IN the mean
time.
II this were IN Kentucky, instead Of
Idaho the latest raiing would open up 3
feud war ar once. The ruling itself n
vites contests. And what would be the
attitude of a settler who had made
every possible exertion 20 meet the pay
u7ent and failed 70 the man who fled
contest On his home Just as he was
about 20 raise the money for the pay
uent during The present month of grace9
II would nor be the faux of the rui-
mg Il feuds are nct en5enderea OF the
Minidoka project that VIII yield har-
vest of bitterness or even biocdshed.
the effects Of which may last fora gen
Grafton
The moekery of q month Of grace in
which to raise the money coupled with
an invitation % outsiders TO spring
contest and snatch the home away from
the settler al the last moment