The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-08-23
Ahm4z~Al

ton was begun by states under tn
Carey act, and many Carey act entrynel
/, who were eligible to make entries unde
, the Carey act laws were thus covered
into federal projects. One of the bill
passing the house of representative.
hooks to preserving the rights of Carey
act entrymen on such lands taken over
i The French amendment to this bill was
adopted and provides that the rights Of
such entrymen should be protected not
withstanding the fact that they may
have heretofore used their homestead
rights. Mr.. French pointed out that
otherwise men who went upon these
lands in good faith, spending several
years and making improvements that
were worth from $1,000 to $1,000,
would lose their little homes and their
savings unless this relief were granted.
The house saw the point and adpoted
the amendment.
Appropriation Items.
While appropriation bills, under the
Constitution need not originate in the
house of representatives, as matter
of common practice they do SO originate
One of the highly responsible duties of
a representative is to be in touch with
the various items in bills reported by
the eight different appropriating COM
mittees so that details may not be over
looked that are essential and that fair
and reasonable balance may be main
tanned.
Representative French and Smith, in
this connection, were called upon to
look after Idaho's interests in these
bills -thc Idaho items having to do with
various federal offices, such as land
agencies maintained in the state, forest
service, roads and bridges, Indian mat
tiers, irrigation works, etc
In the ,sundry civil appropriation bill,
for instance, the following items were
included in the measure as it passed the |
house and as it became law; in each
the items being for mainte-
nance, operation, continuation of con-
struction and incidental operations:
Boise Project ........ $4,000
King Hill Project. 49, $4,000
Minidoka Project -. $4,000
amounts to be available for the current
fiscal year. In addition to this, the
amount of 100000 was appropriated for
by the reclamation service
IF drainage lands and cut-over timber
ands in all the states of the Union in
inc with the amendment which Mr..
French proposed in the house, but that
vas voted down, reinserted in the SEN
lite, and agreed to by the house. This
tenn is of special Importance to several
Talleys and counties of northern Idaho.
Indian Affairs Committee.
There are eight appropriating COM
nittees in the house of representatives,
nd membership on one of these appro-
'riating committees, or upon the COM
nittee of ways and means, public lands,
or interstate and foreign COM.
nerce, is the prize in committee assign Il
nent usually sought by members of the j,
ouse. The members of appropriating {
ommittees hold the purse strings of the /
government. The work is not dramatic r
nd spectacular it does not bring the +
lenlbers into the headlines or the lime !
ght; but those who serve BOSTON these
are the men who are willing
} do earnest, quiet, faithful work.
Mr.. French is a member of one of
lese eight appropriating committees
lie committee on Indian affairs This u
ommittee during the present congress {
andled bill involving more than Sill,
10000; in other words, vast sum a
hen you compare it with what it costs, I
Or instance, to conduct the state affairs a
Idaho. The Department of the In
,rior asked for more than S12,OOO,OOO, Q
ut the committee, as result of many q
avs of hearings and elaboration, Sue IL
.eded in scaling down more than 81,
)0,000 from the amount asked for. A s.
areless committee can saddle millions
dollars upon the government with p
lie public given little opportunity to g
now how it has been imposed upon il
lem careful committee can, on the p
her hand save. the government mil n
ons of dollars. "
Mr.. French is also member of the al
,mmittee on war claims, but this COM
ittee has not been called upon for Sc
savy work during the present con- Sc
-ess. d