Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-02-16
Engineer Lewis, Attorney General Craw
ford and Treasurer Kay
Hit.
DESERT BOARD NO GOOD
is ASSERTION OF GOVERNOR
Flea Has Some Value to Keep Dogs
Amused But Aggregation Has No
Value at AL, Says West.
[uNirrD PRESS LEASED wInr /

PORTLAND, Ore, Feb. 16.-Caustic at
tack by Governor West on the desert
land board and particularly three mem.
bers Of 1.-THE State Engineer John
a. Lewis, Attorney General Crawford
and State Treasury Kay-created a
sensation at Saturdays session of the
Oregon irrigtion congress. Here are
some Of the things he said:
"If there is anything the All-Wise
creator should take himself to account
for 1t is the desert land board A
flea has a certain value because il
serves to keep some dogs amused and
busy, but can't see any such value
in the desert land board.
State Engineer Lewis can make
more reports than any one on earth.
Reports are one of the causes for the
governments lacking action. When
any one has proposal for action the
state engineer is always there with
some plan to defer action.
tom Kay is state treasurer and
runs woolen mill-what does he
know about reclamation.
"Attorney General Crawford-God
bless him-He can get on more sides
Of the same question at the same time
than any one / ever saw"
Proposes Help for Settlers.
The governor was proposing help
for the settlers of the central Oregon
irrigation project and he declared the
desert land boards methods Of hand.
ling the situation was to delay and de-
feat the hopes Of actual settlers while
the board quibbled, He proposed that
mortgages given by settlers on the
Tumalo project-more money having
been advanced to them on mortgages
through an appropriation Of the last
leislature--be discounted and the pro.
ceeds used in financing, say, the TAX.
ing over the north unit Of the central
Oregon project. He also advocated
the loaning Of money from the school
fund-it amounts to about $6,000O0O |
declaring that lands susceptible OF
reclamation by irrigation should con.
stitute the hest kind of security.
He said the state engineers PROPOSE.
tien for the government to issue three
per cent bonds half of which would !
be secured by state four per cent
bonds, might wait while immediate re.
lief along tho lines Of his plan should
be given actual settlers.
10 Determine 10 Work.
~ intend to use all my time from
now until the first of the year bring.
ing about an aranement that will put
water on the arid lands and make pyo.
ductiyo fields of barren stretches, f"
said the governor
state Engineer LOWS replied brief.
ly to Governor West 3 speech, saying; |
"The governor says he is for immedi.
ate action; l contend that my recon.
mendatious win bring moro immediate
action than the govenor's." He said
no was unwilling that taxpayers bo
subjected to indirect taxation for irri,
CATION as was done with the Tumalo
project.
Lewis Defends Plan.
81 want to answer the governor on
tho charge that / have been causing
delays" exclaimed Engineer Lewis
''Hc evidently does not understand the
plan that propose. II would do away |
with delays, We would got Immediate
action. Wo have to provide direct bond
issues. We can = raise and more money
ny direct taxation,
care you saying that to get more
votes AZ tho next olectioni" dryly |
asked J. N. b, Gcrking, the sage of
Laidlaw,
The governors assertions were al. |
lowed to 40 undenied until afternoon
session opened, and meanwhile Jesse
stearns, counsel for the Central Oregon
Irrigation company, was given an op.
portunity to explain the plans Of that
concern and to answer somo Of tho SO.
we're criticisms that have been directed
against the company
"Therc seems to be an intent here
TO mako this company tho scapegoat
for a lot Of bad luck that wo have OK.
poricncod," he concluded, and blamed
the state engineer for not granting Ger.
tificatcs TO the settlers.
Lowis was quick in response.
WIN Hold Company TO Contract.
ri sccms TO be question Of who Is
70 bc tho scapogoat, he said. "Mr,
stcarns, Il seems, wants to pass il up
TO me.
~ admit that the company took
big risk on that project But they
took risk to make 100 per cent profit.
That what we gave them that prof,
for
"They will have to repair their canals
so that there won't DO morn than the
legal limit Of leakage before give
any certificates