The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-07-03
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Washington. D. c., July 1.-Repre
sentative French has been advised b.
the Interior Department of the public
notice issued to all settlers ON Ma
uonal Irrigation Projects by the Sec
rotary Of the Interior that the build
ing charge for the last instalment
which became payable is reduced tt
one-thtrd Of the amount due, but not
to less than SOC per acre: the pay
ment Of the balance to be- deferred ant
added to the last installment on the
water right application. For those
who have already paid the charges
due corresponding credit ic to BIZ
given on the next annual installment
or they may have the credit applied
to the operation and maintenance
charges now due.
) No person Is to receive the benefit
of this concession on December LIST
next who has not paid all the amounts
due for operation and maintenance al
who has cultivated less than one-hall
Of the irrigable area Of his land OF
not less than acres for each full
4KI166tkOu 6S$46Ou 6llkC0 WdC0r WAS
first available for the land.
It is provided further in the case
OF those who are now delinquent and
subject to cancellation that If they
make payment Of the operation and
maintenance charges for irrigation
their land, no steps will be taken to-
ward cancellation until December LIST
1913. IN i
secretary Lane announces further
that he will urge upon Congress the
passage of some act giving a fur
Their extension of time for the payment
| OF the building charges under proper
limitation and conditions.
Mr.. French has a bill pending on
this head before the Committee on
Irrigation of Arid Lands providing for
the extension of the number of pay
ments to thirty annual payments, in
stead of ten as at present
This idea was very earnestly OPP
posed by the late Secretary Fisher al
though favored by his first assistant
secretary, Mr.. Adams. Mr.. French is
greatly pleased that the Department
favors the proposition embodied in
his bill in general way and is hope
full that his bill may become law.
The Eastern journals, regardless Of
politics, are criticising very severely
the action of Attorney General Nc
Reynolds for directing postponement
Of the trial in San Francisco involv-
ing an infraction of the White Slave
law, the Philadelphia Inquirer editor
tally says:
The people of California are re-
ported to be considerably worked up
over the postpOIement of the trials
of Drew Caminetti and Maury Diggs,
indicted by the Federal grand jury for
violation of the White Slave law, AM
by the resignation of District Attor-
ney McNab as q protest. Naturally
they would be. If, as Mr.. McNab
has shocked the moral sense Of the
community, it is easy to imagine that
California is at the back of the Dis
trict Attorney and greatly incensed
because, it being incOnvenient for Inn
migration Commissioner Caminetti, ia
Their Of one of the accused men, to
attend the trial at this time, the
Attorney General of the United States
ordered a delay, which in California
is considered a menace to the cause
Of justice. 4
Or course, there are partisan sneers
heard at Washington. McNab is
playing politics" and bidding for the
governorship, and so on. So some of
tho unthinking are saying. But, even
If he were, we do not see that that
fact alters the merits OF the case in.
any way. Why did the attorney gener-
al of the United States give him tn,
opportunity to play politics.
Here was a case against the young
er Caminetti and against his friend
Diggs set down for trial. District At
torney McNab and former Judge Her
rington. special agent of the govern
ment, had carefully collected their
evidence, had gone before the grand
jury with it and were ready to pro-
coed. But on the eve of trial comes
the command from the attorney gen
eral Of the United States to postpone
Why? Because of Influence in high
places; because the father Of one of
the defendants, who happens to be
the Commissioner of Immigration,
couldn't get away from Washington a,
this time to become a spectator
the trial.
Was there any thought in the A
torney Generals office that this post
ponement might interfere with JUS
tice? According to District Attorney
McNab, the Department of Justice was
warned that attempts were being
made to secure delay, and that delay
might work serious difference with
the result. However that may be,
postpOnement was ordered and the
people of California are angered be-
cause Of it.
And why should they not be? For
do they not see in this case rank
discrimination?
For, after all, in spite of all ex
plantations, in spite Of all excuses, he
is the point: Suppose Drew Camin-
ETH was not what he is-the son OF
powerful office holder under the
administration at Washington; sup
pose him to be without influence,
would not his trial now be going on?
Congressman Smith has introduced