The Washington herald., 1913-05-15
METHODS
OFFICEATTACKED
Reclamation Service a Failure
Because Of Lack Of Diplo-
macy Is Charge.
LANE CONTINUES HEARING
Additional Charge for Irrigation o.
Farm Lands Is Considered Strong
Point for Complaint.


part of the Reclamation Service intima-
tons of bad faith, and vigorous at
tack on the methods employed by the
Land Office were features OF yesterday
hearing before Secretary of the Interior
Lane. 1t was alleged that the service
has been a failure principally through
lack of diplomacy on its part in dealing
with the farmers while charges of bad
faith were made by F. c. Farnham, OF
the Bel Fourche project. in dealings be-
tween the farmers and representatives
of the Reclamation Bureau.
This, according to statements OF Mr..
Farnham, is represented in an additional
charge for irrigation of the farm lands.
According to Mr. Farnham, the proposal
of an additional charge, made by rep
resentative of the Reclamation Service.
hung fire for year before the farmers
he represented decided to pay the addi-
tional charges. They were led to believe
that these charges would be s. to each,
but after they had decided to pay the
addition they found that il was much
more than that amount.
Farnbam Leads Attack.
A vigorous attack on the methods en-
Moved by the Land Office in dealing
with settlers marked the closing hours
of the afternoon session.
The attack was lead by Farnham.
Earl 3. Smith, of Yuma. Ariz., TOOK a
prominent part in the discussion. j. w.
Keener. of the Land Office, responded.
Farnham brought up the subject by cit
ing the case of a settler named Jenson'
who. after proving up on his land 10
obtain a patent on IT, and paying all
sums due. received notice before the
patent was issued that he owed an as
sassment which Would have to he pald
daN
Cancelled.
The application for patent was mace
in the fall and the next April. when the
notice was received, the patent had not
arrived In the opinion of Mr.. Farnham
il should have arrived before that time'
in December when the assessment was
due Had the patent arrived no more
assessments could have been collected.
As il was declared Mr.. Farnham, the
notice of the extra assessment arrived
AT a time when the settler was out OF
funds, having used all his money IN
PROVING up his claim for a patent. Both
Mr.. Farnham and Mr.. Smith wanted to
know why the Land Office delayed the
issuance of patents for such a length OF
time and Mr. Smith inquired why appli-
Giants for patents laid in the local lana
Offices for as long as forty days pelore
being sent to Washington.
Mr.. Keener replied and declared that
this was due to the enormous business
transacted by the office. He SAID that
the clause in the notice regarding the
cancellation of the entry was an error
and should have stated that the GER
tificate would be Cancelled.
senator Shafroth Speaks.
The Shoshone and Bel Fourche pro-
ipcts were both considered yesterday.
Senator Shafroth also spoke, chiefly tax
ing up the general question Of the own
ership of water by the States, as against
Federal control. He argued that even
the control of navigation gives the Fed
eraI government only A negative control
of rivers. in the right to prevent OBJ
struction.
Mr.. MondeIl. Of Wyoming, got permits
sion to go back to the Shoshone project,
which had hearing at the session of
Wednesday night when Mr.. Nelson, of
Wyoming, spoke in criticism of the serv-
ice especially in the matter of pub
licity Mr. Mondell felt that the serv-
ice, like other great government bu-
reaus. had handled very large PROPOSE
ton both honestly and creditably. In
matters small in themselves and in their
relation to the whole enterprise, but
large in their vital Importance to the in
felt that the service had failed in great
measure. owing to lack of diplomacy in
certain of the field officers and owing to
the distance between the Washington
headquarters and the men in the field.
He classified the troubles with the serv
&c under three heads:
First. the seepage problem. which. he
said, could not have been foreseen by
even a detailed reconnaissance. This add
ed s. per acre to the cost for a drainage
system. Mr.. Mondell, being thoroughly
familiar with the act which he himself
reported out of committee, gave his opin-
ion that the settlers should and must
legally be consulted on extra costs.
Extension of Time Asked.
Second. he took up the matter of pay
ments and urged that the Shoshone
farmers be given extension of time, owing
to the lack of humus in the SOIL which
makes the first few crops very light,
though after once getting alfalfa started
the soil is highly productive
Third, Mr.. MondeI spoke of criticisms
of the general administration traceaple
to lack of tact OF the officials. He felt
that the construction of the law was too
hidebound and literal. not only by the
service. but by the farmers organiZa-
tions, so that individuals were at the
mercy of legal technicalities, which
vitiate the real intent of the act. He
must cost more than private work be-
cause the projects are more difficult, and
the work must be better, simply be-