American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-11-06

ton and in consequence such recon-
mendations OF the senators or rep
resentatsyes and indicate the view
contingent In congress will get to-
gether hold a series OF conferences
on the land and forest administra-
ton, viii agree upon reforms while
are essential and will map out a
definite program, and will then
unite In laying It's recommended
fiong before the interior and fores-
try departments, 1t Is almost certain
that such recommendations will be
seriously cons dered, and probably
carried out. But only through uni
ty Of purpose, and through the
agreement upon a definite and fixed
policy can the west expect to &C
complish those reforms which II so
much desires.
Aside from the revision OF the
land laws and land and forestry ad-
mlnistration. the west has much TO
ask OF congress. To begin with. it
wants congress to provide. by some
means. an additional loan OF $780,
0O0, 900 to the reclamation fund,
a. proposed by Secretary Lane.
II wants to amend the three
year homestead law to make 1t OF
greater benefit to homesteaders;
likewise 1t wants congress to amend
the reclamation act TO relieve the
burden upon homesteaders as sug-
gested by Secretary Lane, namely,
by giving the settler four or five
years TO establish himself before ex-
acting payments from hdm and then
allowing him Is TO 20 years to pay
for his water instead OF requiring
payment In 10 years as now re-
quired by statute.
The far western states want some
Of their harhors and important
waterways improved as speedily as
possible, 80 that the western ports
can take full advantage of the
Panama canal when that waterway Is
opened Il commerce, and while this
Is a project OF interest primarily to
the coast states, 1t Is n that af-
, fects indirectly the entire west,
which will ship Its products by way
Of Pacific coast ports through the
canal to the Atlantic seaboard and
to Europe. y
Most every state has one Or more
national parks, all Of them terribly
neglected by the government and
all IN need of more and better roads
II will require concert OF action to
induce congress to appropriate liber-
ally for these parks. These are
only some of the things the west
IS asking or win ask when the regu-
lar session opens and there are a
number of westerners in congress
who who quite agree with Senator
Brady that there must be co-opera-
ton In order to secure full recog-
milton. In the matter of local legis-
lation each OF the western states
wants something, more or less
from congress. Often local legis-
lation Of this type is defeated be-
cause defended only by the dele
cation interested. But II the west
will unite. and all take a hand in
passing western local legislation
much can be accomplished. With
such an organization as Senator
Brady proposes. the entire west
would help pass a bill affecting
only the state OF Washington. or
the state of Montana, or any other
state whose senators and representa-
tives joined in the movement.
WIN Conservationists Tackle Lane?
Not In many years has there been
a secretary OF the interior so popu-
lar as the present incumbent, and
never, In recent years. has there
been a secretary so heartily in
sympathy with the west. and SC
anxious to lend his help In building
up the public land states. Nor has
any other secretary been SO keen
y alive as Is Secretary Lane TO the
defects in the admin stration OF the
public land service. Secretary
lanes views. as expressed upon hs
return from the west only served
to swell his popularity. particular.
y with senators and representative
who have business before his depart
mtnt. In contrast to a number o.
his predecessors. Secretary Lane be
lieves that the land laws should b'
administered In a way that will hell
the homeseeker in his effort to ge
title TO a piece OF public land; no
In a way to balk the settler an'
make IL as difficult as possible Il
o get a patent. He believes the lan'
laws should be literally construed
y and not rigidly enforced. where !
IS shown that the settler is acting
In good faith with the government
n "a -IH-L -