Arizona sentinel and Yuma weekly examiner., 1914-11-12
Interior Department
 Sends Its Notice to
 the Water User.

suit either Tn decreasing the charges, or leaving them as they are.
 The water user in executing an ac- ceptance to the Reclamation Exten- sion Act does not bind himself to vote in favor of an increased charge, nor does he bind himself to pay any greater sum than that called for in his contract. He does, however, by signing the acceptance, make 1t pos sible to apply the terms of this act to his land and the advantages of this act are many. For instance, it will no longer be proper to charge to opera tion and maintenance cost such items as Improvements or betterments. It will not be possible to undertake any large supplemental construction work on the project without the consent of the water users.
 The new law, in effect, gives the water user on the government project almost the same control over the con- atructiop expenditures on that project that he would have in the manage Gent of an irrigation district under the laws of his state. The Reclama- tion Extension Act confers upon the water users the power to veto any construction work that would add to their burden of costs, of which they do not approve.
 Those who would prefer to see the old law continue in effect, that is to say those who prefer to continue to pay the remainder of the ten annual installments as they fall due, rather than to have 20 years more in which to pay, may have that privilege. All they need to do is to decline to exe- cute acceptances of the act. Failure, refusal or neglect to execute such ac- ceptances will leave the old law in full force and effect.
 It is in the interest and for the ad- vantage of the water user himself that we urge upon him the advisability of executing acceptances on or before December 1; 1914
 1 The old law requires in most cases, that the building charges shall be col lected on December 1. Unless the water users intention is made mani fest by his filing acceptance of the Reclamation Extension Act before that date, there is. no way by which this commission can determine that he will, before March 24, 1915, file such acceptance. Therefore, there will be nothing for the service to do but to proceed under the terms of the old law.
 One interpretation of the new law, and of the effect of he public notice of September A, 1911, is that inas- much as the law gives the water user six months (a.ter the first pubic no- tice is issued affecting his .andj with in which to f:le his rceptaace, and DSCSE1UCI l sS HdUlSu therein as the date of the first install ment due, any acceptance filed within the six months period, that is to say on or before March 24, 1915, will have the effect to grant such acceptor the right to pay per cent on December 1, 1914.
 It is manifestly impossible for the man who files his acceptance on March A, 1915, to pay his per cent installment on December 1, 1914.
 The law requires that for each months delay in the payment of this 2 per cent installment, the delinquent shall pay in addition thereto 1 per cent per month penalty.
 Therefore, the water user who de lays the acceptance of this act until March A, 1915, will find himself con- fronted with the necessity of paying per cent penalty for his procrasti nation.
 Assuming that the construction charge is $1O0 per acre and that the water user has already paid 50 on ac- count, the balance due therefor is $50. | There will accrue and be payable on December 1 as to all those who have 1 signed their acceptance a charge Of only 2 per cent, or $1.00 per acre. In | the case of a man having so acres, the amount to be collected will be $SO, | but if not paid on or before December | l, a penalty of 1 per cent will be add | ed on the 2nd of December and on | the first day of each succeeding month | until the installment is paid.
 If, therefore, he waits until March | A, 1915, to file his acceptance and | pay his installments, he will pay not | $SO but $S32O, the s32O being the penalty assessed for his delay.
 It is evident, therefore, that it is to the profit and advantage of every water user who is paying a construc- tion charge, to execute and file his ac- ceptance on or before December 1.