The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-03-01
State Reclamation and Soldier Settlement Work Should Be
An Independent Activity Backed by Every Official Agency

q ENAToR FULLY Of Lincoln county has the
honor Of having introduced the arsi bill in
The present legislative session seeking 10 pro
vide a state agency for active reclamation work
and soldier settlement. senator FULLY Is 70 hc con-
graduated upon HIS action IN putting into concrete
form what has become a general public demand
and a very definite public Necessity. The purposes
Of the bill are admirable They are. in effect, 20
provide an official agency which may infinite rccla-
nation and soldier settlement projects on behalf of
thc state. and TO afford q means of cooperation by
the state with the federal government IN such
projects.
Under the urgent demands Of Secretary Lane
II seems possible that the iOO.OOO.OO appropria.
ton for reclamation and soldier settlement work
may be passed before the present congress adiourns.
II Is significant 10 note that Secretary Lane asserts
that within sixty days after the passage Of this bill
many thousands " soldiers win be ~ work IN many
stnies ON projects upon which they will earn and
establish homes. Two At least. aud possibly four
Of these original projects In the nations greater
reclamation program should be Ia New Mexico. The
two that arr rendy are the Drainage project in the
Central Rio Grande valley. and the Nan Juan irriga.
ton project. Each would supply immediate work
Tor a small army and eventually homes for ihous.
ands.
Even should the present congress, now in III
last hour. fail 10 reach this bill, Il n reasonably
certain thai ifs enactment. or the passage Of sopc
similar measure will be one Of the early actions Of
the new congress. II y therefore vitality important
thai the statp providc is cooperative agency and
that such agency be Of the most practical, vigorous
and effective character.
IL j. 10 regard 20 the membership Of his pro-
posed commission. aud not IN any sense with the
purposes Of his bill, that the Herald does not agree
with Senator Tully The hin introduced proposes
one appointivc aud executive commissioner AZ q
substantial salary and two associates. unc ~ whom
h an elective state officer and the other the head
Of an educational institution. Both these latter. a.
designated IN the bill. happen At this time 10 be-
exceptionally capable men, fully able 10 discharge
the duties 10 be- imposed Both. however, hold very
bssy official posts occupying the major portion Of
every day IN the year, and not an eight hour day
at that.
We believe that the proposed state reclamation
aud soldier settlement commission. or whatever q
may finally be- called. should be an independent state
agency, wholly free If other official duties and re-
sponsibilities. We believe that the members Of such
a commission win fad that they have undertaken an
arduous job; one that will require their best
thought aud effort aud the major portion of their
time. They should have no other interests or duties
10 district hem or occupy their time. Moreover,
he work 10 be- undertaken Is not a tive year job.
II il work that. once started. h likely 10 continue
for years. Therefore. 10 get best results the com
mission should be continuous so that AZ least two
Of the members are at al times familiar with the
work IN hand and " ith the policy being worked out