Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-08-06
he gave no positive assurance that
this would be DONE

III biiAo NOiAi1RNAOll iAdtlCl VI ca
/ tension of payments was brought up,
it beng suggested to the secretary
| that there were cases in which the
settlers were entitled to an extension,
and his attention was called to the rul-
ing of Secretary Garfield, to the effect
that if a settler was delinquent his sec
retary had no discretion in the matter
1t was further suggested that if this
was Mr.. Ballinger's attitude the law
ought to be amended. Mr.. Ballinger
replied that such was not his interpre-
tation of the law; that while he had no
authority under the law to grant ex-
tensions, he did not hold that the law
required him to cancel such entries.
He could simply withhold action in such
cases. However, he desired to have it
clearly understood that it would be a
case of extreme emergency that would
induce him to withhold action and he
was holding out no promises along this
line, but would expect all settlers to
their payments before they became de-
linquent.
The drainage question was brought
up, the committee desiring to empha-
size their view that it was a serious
problem and one that demanded imme-
diate attention. The secretary stated
that this was entirely an engineering
question and in its settlement he would
be guided by the advice of the engin-
eers. 1t is understood that this ques-
tion was the subject of conference
between the secretary and Engineers
Davis, Weymouth and Camp while they
were here, but the conclusions reached
were not made public.
In regard to the resumption of CO.
operative work the secretary stated
that it was clear that it was not au-
thorized by the law, which gave the
secretary authority to carry on the
work only when there were funds avail
able for such work. He intimated
that an effort would be made to secure
legislation covering this subject, but
could not guarantee that such effort
would be successful.
The committee brought up certain
matters relating exclusively to the Ru
pert townsite Among these was a
that the unappraised
portion of the townsite be appraised in
units of blocks and half blocks and
placed on the market. The reclama-
ton engineers endorsed this request
and the secretary promised that the
matter should be taken up, stating that
ought to be done along this
line.
In regard to supplying the towns
with electricity. the secretary con-
Cured in the view of the committe that |
this would be a great benefit to the /
towns and source of revenue to the /
government, and the understanding
was had that this would be done in the I
near future.
In closing the interview Secretary
Ballinger assured the committee that
he was as deeply concerned in the well
fare and success of all reclamation pro-
iects as the settlers were, and gave ex-
preston of his desire to do all that he
could do to improve conditions on the
project.
On Wednesday the secretary and
party visited the lifts on the south side,
irving across the sub-irrigated country
o Downard's ferry. In the afternoon
3urley and Hepburn were visited. At
Ieyburn committee consisting of DR..
Zillen, F. NJ. Snyder, Colin McRae and
:. c.. Nelson, met the secretary and
resented a typewriter statement
overing a number of subjects. Among
ther things they asked that the recla- ;
nation service make a statement of s
expenditures, alleging that 7
here was wasteful and unnecessary
Expenditure of funds. In reply the {
ecretary stated that he would not re- {
uire the reclamation service to make S
public statement. All of the books j
nd accounts were public and open to r.
nyone for inspection. There was moth
lg to conceal and if there was any
aste of funds he would like to know +
He was not prepared to answer the t
Iestion as 70 why the maintenance a
large was raised and took it under t
!;
On the subject of electric power, as t
france was given that line would be
IN through all of the towns and cleo t
icity furnished some time during the f
H. Chief Engineer Davis discussed e
lis subject at length, stating that G
ntative schedule of rates had been s
.epared. During the winter the rates Il
ouId be about half what they would
during the irrigation season, on ac- a
unt of the surplus of power. 1t was ii
tended to encourage the use of cleo W
,citx, fo,. baa fincr r,llfpOSqS and a rate [ e.