The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-08-25


Did MOI Understand Provisions
Bill Is Given in Full That Readers
May Know Exactly What 1t Pro-
vides-Subjecs Important.
The bill of Congressman Addison T.
Smith providing for the leasing OF
water power under government recla-
nation projects has provoked a great
deal OF discussion. Last week The
tribune published an article setting
forth that the committee appointed by
the BOISE Water Useds' association
disapproved of the proposed bill.
Thinking the matter of great nuh-
lie interest we print the proposed law
IN full, and also a letter addressed to
the committee by Congressman Smith
The letter discussing the proposed hill
follows:
Water Users Must Approve.
Further acknowledging receipt of
your telegram with reference to H.
r. 1928, introduced by me, with a
view OF benefitting the water users on
government reclamation projects In
the sale OF surplus power which NAV
be available, l beg to say that as YOU
are aware the present law authorizes
the leasing of such surplus power for
period of only ten years without the
approval of the Water Users asso-
Citations. The bill under consideration
provides that these leases may be en-
tered into for period not exceeding
nifty years, providing the legally au-
thorlzed Water Users associations on
the project approve such leases. This
legislation is intended to better pro-
tect the rights of the Water Users
associations and to bring to the
projects source of income from the
sale OF surplus power which will, it is
hoped, amount to considerable sum
and thus reduce the cost of water to
the entrymen. 1t has been found that
on many of the projects it is impos-
sible to enter into lease which would
be advantageous to the Water Users
association under the present law per-
mittlng leases tor only ten years.
This is especially true where the ex-
pendlture OF several thousand dollars
would be involved in the construction
OF power plants. If this law is not
enacted it will probably result in a
great quantity of surplus power on
reclamation projects going TO waste
which should be utilized, not only to
enable the reclamation of additional
lands, but also to bring an Income to
the settlers under the project. Under
the proposed law Water Users asso-
cratons have absolute control of the
matter, inasmuch as their approval
must be secured before contracts can
be entered into by the Secretary OF
the Interior, for the leasing of surplus
power. If you have any sugge stions
to offer in view of the above explana-
ton as to the object to be accomp-
lished by proposed legislation, please
let me hear from YOU"
Proposed Law.
The bill introduced by Congressman
Smith is as follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in congress
assembled. That section five of an act
entitled An act providing for the
withdrawal from public entry of lands
needed for townsite purposes in con-
nection with irrigation projects under
the reclamation act of June seven
teenth, nineteen hundred and two. and
for other purposes" approved April
sixteenth, nineteen hundred and six,
as amended by the act of February
twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and
eleven, entitled can act 20 amend an
acst entitled An act providing for the
withdrawal from public entry of lands
needed for townsite purposes in con-
nection with irrigation projects under
the reclamation act of June II, 1902,
and for other purposes approved
April 10, 1906" be amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 5. That whenever develop
ment of power is necessary for the ir-
rigation of lands, under any project
undertaken under the reclamation law.
or any opportunity is afforded for the
development of power under any such
project, the Secretary of the Interior,
with the approval of the legally or
ganized and acting water users as
ISOLATION, or associations, under any
such project, is authorized to lease for
a period not exceeding fifty years,
giving preference to municipal pur-
poses and to irrigation districts duly
organized under state law, any surplus
power or power privilege, and the
money derived from such leases shall
be converted into the reclamation fund
and be placed to the credit of the
project within which said power is de-
rived: Provided, That mo lease shall
be made for such surplus power or
power privilege as will impair the