The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-04-25
PROPOSED BY REP. FRENCH

Washington, April On the con-
vening of congress April 7, Represen-
tative Burton L. French introduced
the following bills:
A bill extending the number Of an
nual payments to homesteaders and
purchasers of water from the gov
eminent under reclamation projects
from ten to thirty. Under the pres
ent law the payments required for
the water furnished by the govern
ment is extended over period OF ten
years and with the constantly in
creating cost of reclamation the prob
lem of meeting the payments is al
ready a burden Mr.. French con-
tends that the homestead law upon
reclamation projects should be In the
interests of the poor man and that
thirty annual payments will be vastly
to the interest of the poor man.
while at the same time the land if IL
is worth acquiring at all, constituted
an abundant security to the govern
ment for the payment Of all deferred
amounts due.
Also bill that will extend to Ida
no the same non-residence features
with respect to lands that may be &C
quired under the enlarged homestead
law as now apply to the state OF
Utah.
The conditions in the southern part
of Idaho are identical in many places
with the conditions in the state of
Utah, Lands often are found lying
high above any practicable irrigation
line and settlers upon the same are
denied even the possibility of obtain
ing even water for domestic uses. 1t
is provided in the present law apply
ing to Utah that as regards such lands
as these the homestead entryman
may reside within, a reasonable dis
lance from the land from which he
may cultivate and handle the same,
applying the system of dry farming
which is developing so successfully in
the west, Mr.. French urges that the
same provision should apply to lands
similarly situated in the aridsections
of Idaho.
Also a bill amending the present
homestead law so that instead of the
homesteader being required to cult
vate one sixteenth of the area of his
homestead the first year and one
9Th of the area the second Ind each
succeeding year, he shall be required
to perform in lieu of such cultivation
certain improvement work such as
clearing. orcharding, fencing, slash
ing or blowing to the extent Of $3.50
per acre annually except upon the en-
larged homestead where the amount
of improvements shall equal IS cents
per acre. .....
''* Also a bill providing for entry I'M
der the homestead law Of the surface
of lands held by the government with
in phosphate Withdrawals in the
state Mr.. French can see no rea-
sonable probability of the govern
ment ever abandoning the idea of re-
tanning ownership andcontrol Of phos-
phate deposits and believes this is the
only reasonable way of disposing Of
the land containing the same, and be-
lieves that the passage of this bill
will mean for the development of
some 100000 acres of land in the
southern part Of the state.
Also bill providing that the gov
eminent shall compensate rural mail
carriers who may be injured in line
of duty or their families in event the
mail carrier shall lose his life while
in line of duty under similar terms
as now are provided for by law with
respect to railway mail carriers.
Also a bill providing for a uniform
system Of railway signals throughout
the United States.
Also a number Of other bills most
important of which are the following.
Extending the pension laws to certain
veterans of Indian wars; providing
for woman's suffrage in the election
of members of the senate and house
of representatives; authorizing the
forest service to cooperate with the
University Of Idaho and for the es-