The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-12-12

and read his annual message at Joint
session in the house chamber. Aside
from this formality, inaugurated last
April, and the presentation in the
uouse of annual estimates for federal
expenditures, the first days of the new
sessions were scarcely distinguished
from the closing step of the old For
the first time in many years, congress
will step over from one session to an
other without break in the routine
business.
The significance of the new session
lies in the fact that it opens the flood
gates for legislative activity. and in
ausHrates period that promises to be
crowded with the consideration of i'm
portant projects, and prolific in legis-
lative enactment
The extra session just ending was
limited, by Informal agreement with
President Wilson, to the consideration
OF tariff and currency reform, anu
nothing that might interior with those
issues was taken up The currency
bill still dominates the situation as the
new session begins, but the admins
tration program of antitrust and rail
road legislation, which is to follow,
must share the field with a score or
more of other important subjects.
The new session probably will wit
ness more activity prior to Christmas
than any of recent years. Democratic
leaders propose to hold the senate to
thirteen hour sessions, with no Christ
mas vacation, unless the currency bill
is passed before the time set for the
holidays. In the house, meantime, an
effort will be made to dispose of sew
eral of the annual appropriation bills
before Christmas. so that apDropria-
ton legislation will interfere as little
as possible with the consideration of
other matters.
French Works for Improved Land
Conditions.
Congressman French has been very
active in supporting the proposition of
passing to patent all lands in Idaho,
patent to which under grants should
be issued to grantee, and is greatly
pleased with the view the interior de-
partment is taking of the proposition.
In northern Idaho alone approx
mately 100000 acres have been
Granted to railroads or to grantees of
the latter and are paying no taxes
Some of this land is so situated that
under the ordinary survey work that
the government is carrying on, it can
not be reached within the near future
Mr.. French urges that in addition to
this a special appropriation should be
provided for the survey of this land.
He has introduced bill with this end
in view and has the support of the in
terror department in the proposition
Assistant Secretary Jones said to-
day to Mr.. French, 81 shall back up
the. proposition to the limit" Speak
ing on the subject Mr.. French said, Il
condemn most earnestly the scrip law
which was enacted some fifteen years
ago under which these lands Nave
been selected in Idaho in lieu of land
grants in other states. This crime,
however, has been committed, and we
cannot undo it. The thing to do now is
to make the lands taxable instead of
permitting them to increase in value to
the owners at the expense of the state
of Idaho and the counties through the
non-payment of taxes.
sV'tb. Wants Western Delegations to
Unite.
In discussing legisk,tionN desired by
the west recently, Congressman Smith
expressed a sentiment which will find
a hearty response in the hearts of all
| true weSterners. He said
Recent developments convince me
that it may be necessary for western
delegations to act in unison on certain
measures, as matter of self-protec-
ton.
/ RI ~ will No I'D NV
things to which we are entitled, and
some things which we have long en-
joyed will be taken away from us.
''The eastern section of the coun-
| try is particularly favored because of
the seat of government being located
here. All the senators and represen-
tatives are required to spend the most
OF their time here, and because of this
fact they are all advised regarding
the legislative needs of the central
and eastern part of the country, but
they are not required to inform them
selves in regard to the great Rocky
Mountain and Pacific coast states and,
as consequence, they are handicap
ped by lack Ct information when ques-
tons peculiarly applicable to that sec
ton are under consideration. What
actual knowledge can the new men,
Der have of the legislative needs of
that country who has never been west
of the Mississippi river? What can he
KNOW about the necessity Of proposed
changes in the homestead laws, the de-
sert land laws, the dry farming act,
the reclamation law, the mining law,
and numerous other laws effecting the
country? And yet we all know of in
stances, many Of them, where MEM
bers refuse to follow the opinion of
those who know by actual experience
and observation the hardships impos-
ed on the pioneer farmer because of
the unjust provisions of our public
land laws.
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