The Delta independent., 1914-11-13
charges, or leaving them as they are.

charges, or leaving them as they are.
| The water user in executing an &C.
ceptance to the reclamation extern
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 it pos
sible to apply the terms of this act
to his land and the advantages of
this act are many. For instance, 1t
will no longer be proper to charge to
operation and maintenance cost such
items as improvements or better.
ments. 1t will not be possible to un-
dertake any large supplemental con-
struction 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-
struction expenditures on that project
that he would have in the manage
ment 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 exc
cute acceptances of the act. Failure.
refusal or neglect to execute such ac-
ceptahces will leave the old law in
force and effect.
1t 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 l, 1914.
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 "a. 1915, file such ac-
ceptance. Therefore. there will be
nothing for the service to do but to
proceed under the terms OF the old
law.
and OF the effect Of the public notice
of September "a, 1914. is that mas
much as the law gives the water user
six months latter the first public no.
tice is issued affecting his iand)
within which to file his acceptance.
and Notwithstanding December is
named therein as the date Of the first
installment due, any acceptance filed
within the six months period, that is
to say on or before March "a. 1915.
will have the effect to grant such ac-
ceptor the right to pay two per cent
on December 1. 1914.
It Is manifestly impossible for tho
March "a. 1915. to pay his per cent
installment on December /. 1914.
The law requires that for each
months delay in tine payment of this
two per cent installment the delin-
quent shall pay in addition thereto
one 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
four per cent penalty for his procras-
tination.
Assuming that the construction
charge is 800 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 as to all those who have
signed their acceptance charge OF
only two per cent or 81 per acre. In
the case OF a man having 80 acres,
the amount to be collected will be $50.
but II not paid on or before Decem-
ber penalty OF one per cent will
be added on the End OF December and
on the first day OF each succeeding
month. until the installment is
paid.
II, therefore, he waits until March
"a. 1915. to file his acceptance and