East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-07-07
SOME TROUBLES
AHEAD OF PROJECT

E. T. Dodd. who is representing the
county at Washington in connection
with the Mckay reservoir project is
having some difficulties. In letter
just received here Mr. Dodd says:
/ 1 reached Washington in the midst
of busy time. The attention of con-
gress is held almost wholly by the
Civil Sundry Bill and other similar
measures that must be passed before
the beginning of a new fiscal year.
Z The League of Nations and the home
coming of the president and a good
many other things occupy the minds
lof most of the members of both
houses. 1t is much like the closing of
a session. Congress. however. pro-
poses adjourning today until Monday
and during the recess l will have bet
ter opportunity of seeing our dele
gates.
1 have gone over the matter briefly
with Mr.. Sinnott and Senator McNary
and l have talked with some of the
officers of the reclamation service.
also attended a dinner last evening
given by L. j. simpson of Coos Bay in
the interest of the Roosevelt Highway
which was attended by the entire del
the situation.
The first evening | was here l saw
the $50,00O.0OO go out on a point of |
order in the senate. watched this :
performance with much interest and 4
disappointment. Our senators were /
on the floor during the entire evening 4
or until the early hours of Sunday /
when the Jones amendment !
was defeated. Borah and Nugent of .
Idaho. Jones and Poindexter of Wash
lngton, Norris of Nebraska and several
others fought hard to save the am
endment but to my surprise Utah 4
voted against it, Colorado was a bsent:
also California and Montana. If the
western senators had all been present
he measure would have stood the first /
lote, Senator McNary told me that he
lad tried to get them all there and !,
was badly disappointed when they did
lot appear. He seemed to be buster
han anyone else in counting noses
before the vote was taken.
This eliminates all chances of secur-
ng funds until the big reclamation bill ;
S passed. This measure Mr.. Sinnott
old me yesterday was ready to be re-
'orted from the committee as soon as
ther business was disposed of. There
5 no doubt but that it will be discussed
II length and be opposed by many sec :,
ions of the country. 1t may be modi- /, :
led until it does not apply to our situ-
tion. For instance. it has already !
cen suggested that the appropriation
e divided among the states accord I
lg to the enlistment of soldiers, which !
a comparison with New York and the ,
ig eastern centers would leave Ore =,
on with a light appropriation. y
Another feature that is against our
roposition is the demand that it be =,
pr soldiers only and this would re- IA,
uire public or very cheap lands. :,
Iowever. in my talk with the recla- :,
lation officials this might be over :,
ome by setting aside some of our :,
lnds for soldier settlement Mr. Sin g
OF was careful that the law would :,
Dntain proviSiorS o- this kind. 1t is a.
lie same ole f'-N' with "A western =.
inority and irrigation does not seem
} be much in the minds of most of h.
he mem bers Of CONGRESS.
To my surprise I found the mem ?
ars of oar own daIe@atiop thinking II
-tle about the McN1N reservoir. Nc
AIRY seemed to know something about II
and also Ny. Sinroi but their minds
ere FUN of Other subjects. | hope II
so over the whole matter in detail n
ith each one If them as the first pre- II
uinarN nf nm wnr'.. then / shall go III
fore the Director and Secretary II
lne.
Mr.. Blanchard of the service assur- II
me that personal Impressions car II
ad more weight with the officials II
an letters and tslegrams and that II
ork Of this kind would be remem-