The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1909-03-18
Graduated Payments.

Geo. w. Black has received the
| following letter from Senator New
lands:
My dear Sir:
Upon receipt of your letter of Janu-
AIRY 18th, regarding the amendment of
the reclamation law, sent it to Mr..
Newell, the Chief of the Reclamation
Service, and requested his views on the
subject. am now in receipt of his
reply, which enclose herewith.
am looking after the pending legis-
lation upon this subject an hope to
secure action along this and other lines
in the interest of the settlers.
Very sincerely yours,
Francis G. Newlands.
Director Newelrs Letter.
Hon. Francis G. Newlands,
United States Senate.
Sir.
beg to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of Feb. 9Th, enclosing one from
Mr.. Geo. w. Black, of Fallon, Nevada,
relative to amendment of the Recla-
nation Act, providing for commuta-
tion of homestead enteries under GER
tain conditions.
This was proposed in pending bill S.
1875. In reporting on this measure TO
the Senate Committee on public lands
the Department referred to the fact
chat one of the important features of
the discussion when the Reclamation
Act was passed involved the exclusion
of the commutation provisions from
entries made under that Act, but that
experience has shown that while it is
wise TO guard against the abuses which
are possible by means of Communication
there would be an advantage to the
projects If the period of residence
could be shortrned, but stated that
from an observation of nearly sevenl
years which is now available under the
Reclamation Act it appears wise to re-
quire at least years residence by all
persons making entry under the home
stead law but not TO require residence
in the early stages Of the development
of the project.
A suggested amendment to the bill
covering this point was submitted to
the committee.
The letter from Mr.. Black is en-
closed
Respectfully yours,
f. II. Newell, Director.
Senator Nixon's Bill.
A bill to provide for relief of delin-
dlent water right applicants under the
provisions Of the Reclamation Act.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the
House Of Represe natives Of the Unit
ed States of America in Congress as
sembled, that the Secretary of the In
terror be, and he is hereby, authorized
In his discretion and under such rules
and regulations as he may prescribe,
to grant extensions of time for pay
ments If the annual installments to
any person who has made application
for water rights under the provisions
of the Reclamation Act of June 18th,
1902, Chapter 1903, and to provide for
graduated payments of such annual in
stalments: Provided, that in making
application for such extension the APP
plication must show, to the satisfaction
of the Secretary of the Interior, that
ne has in good faith established home
on the land and made substantial i'm
provements thereon, and that peculiar
and unusual hardships or conditions
rendered it impossible for him to make
the payment required, and that he has
made reasonable effort to irrigate and
cultivate the land and secure crops
therefrom: Provided further, that
prior to the granting of any applica-
tion by the Secretary of the Interior
each application shall be investigated
by and reported with recommenda-
ton Of the officers of the local organi-
zation of water users association, if
there be one.