The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-06-05
HOMESTEAD LAW MUST
Be MADE ADMINISTRA.
TON MEASURE

The western members of congress
in appealing to the president and
Secretary Lane to urge upon the house
leaders that they secure a special rule
for the consideration of the 20-year
bill, are asking the administration to
do nothing more than make good its
promise given early in the session,
that it would exert its influence to
secure relief for settlers on govern
ment irrigation projects. The 20-year
bill amends the reclamation act by al
lowing settlers on government pro-
jects 20 years, instead of 10, in which
to pay for their water, and also pro-
vides for a graduated system of pay
mentS.
Special Rule Necessary.
1t has been demonstrated that the
20-year bill, passed by the senate
some time ago, cannot pass the house
this. session unless it is brought up
under a special rule. All other
methods of bringing it before the
house have been exhausted, or have
been rendered impossible under the
new tangled rules adopted several
years ago by the Democratic-insur
gent combine when the Cannon rules
were overthrow, and the western
contingent therefore finds itself at
the mercy of the committe on rules,
which is not at all interested in this
bit of legislation.
There is no question, however, but
what a special rule providing for the
consideration of this bill can be and
will be reported if the president will
bring sufficient pressure to bear, for
the rules committee has never yet
refused him a single request and has
reported a special rule for the CON
sideration of practically every bill on
which the administration has asked
prompt consideration.
Lane Out in the Open.
There has never been any question
of the stand of Secretary Lane as
regards this particular legislation.
After exhaustive investigation he be-
came satisfied that the reclamation
act, as it now stands, imposes too
heavy a burden upon the settler on
any of the government projects and
he was one of the first officials tc
propose an extension of time for max
ing water payments. The secretary
was also quick to appreciate the JUS
tice of the demands of settlers thai
payments be graduated in order to re-
lieve the burden upon them during
the first few years of settlement
when they are bringing raw lands un
der cultivation. In his annual repor
Secretary Lane recommended JUS
such relief as the senate bill provide:
and in his reports to congress he ha'
urged that the pending bill be enacted
into law.
President Wilson has never sale
much about relieving the burden OF
western settlers, but he has given hi
approval to this plan of relief to set
tiers on government projects, anC
now that the western members of tn
house are appealing to him to shov
his approval in a way that will max
it possible to secure consideration TO
the bill in question. To make goo
his promise and show beyond ques
ton his desire to help the settlers tn
president not only must now shoN
his approval of the bill, but mus
insist upon having a special rule TN
der which, and only by means c
which, the bill may be brought be
fore the house for consideration an
action.
May Ask For More.
Should the president and Secretar
tary Lane succeed in getting speci;
rule for the consideration of the q
year bill, they probably will be aske
later to advocate another special ru
for the consideration of bill amend
ing the three-year homestead law
way to remove the burden now in
posed by the Objectionable cultivate
clause. But before the western col
gressmen can ask for a second ru
they will have to get together in SUI
port of some definite bill amendir
the homestead law The failure