The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-08-29
RELIEF THROUGH LEGISLA-
TON.

| the Boise reclamation project assur-
ance that he was heartily in favor o.
| relief measures and told them that
| he would cooperate in securing such
relief. That is all the Secretary OF
the Interior can do for us. Congress
must grant any relief that will be per
manent and substantial. The most
| the Secretary can do is to interpret
the law in spirit of friendliness and
with such liberality as is consistent
with the intent OF the statute. All
this he promised us. The next step
is to secure legislation. In order to
do that it would be we'll for the peo-
pie themselves to ascertain exactly
what they want. 1t would be a great
help to Senator Borah and our dele
cation in Congress, we have no doubt,
| if a bill were prepared amending the
| reclamation law as we think it should
be amended. Senator Borah knows
any Of our public men. There is no
| doubt about that, but no matter how
familiar he may be with conditions,
he cannot while in Washington the
greater portion of his time, know the
exact workings OF any legislation no
matter how practical and feasible it
may appear. Laws as administered
and enforced are often quite different
from the laws as they are. The Sen
ator gave us an illustration short
time ago when he said in letter ad-
dressed to Governor Haines, Con
gress passed law providing that set
tiers after the homestead period of
residence could assign their entries
in whole or in part to anyone. If g
settler had 80 acres he could then
sell 10 or 20 or 40 acres, secure mean:
to improve his own and encourage
Others to come in. During what seem
ed to be lucid interval the depart
ment construed the law as it's plain
terms required But after fol-
lowing this course for few weeks,
The department was visited by one OF
those Illuminating spasms OF intel
lectual perversity peculiar to our
Washington department and con
struction was announced that the as
signment could only be made to ano.
Their qualified homesteader, about
which there was absolutely nothing in
the law" AS interpretations of the
law change quickly and radically, so
may laws defeat the purposes for
which they were intended by being
impractical. AS an illustration, again,
is the assignment feature. Ii home
steader wishes to sell 40 of his 80
acres of land he can do so. In doing
SO his 81 acres Of land become two
tarm units instead of one A home
steader can hold but one farm unit
II he can ind a man to pay in full in
cash the law is ample. Such men arc
few and hard to find. Ii he cannot,
he has left no security for the balance
due because he cannot foreclose his
mortgage with any advantage to him
self. He might be able to GUST the
purchaser but he could not regain his
land. The mortgage is OF little good
| to the homesteader as he cannot dis
pose OF it nor regain his 40 acres.
This is the way the law works out
In the light OF our actual experience
and knowing our needs, bill drafted
to suit the conditions, would un-
doubtedly be appreciated by Senator
Borah and others. They would know
exactly what was wanted. The Tri-
bune suggests that in some way or
other the farmers get together with
men OF experience like Mr. Walter
Grifiths, Mr.. 2. L. Smith and Others
and competent committee appoint.
ed to draw such bill If it be rea.
sonable and just our delegation in
Congress, with the assistance of Sec
ed to draw such a bill If it is rea-
is passage.