The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-05-12
HON. SAM FIGHTING
| SETTLERS BATTLES

WASHINGTON. DC, May 3-There
is standing and not always un-
spoken bluff in the halls of Congress,
to the effect that new members are in
the same category as small boy3 in
eompany-they are to "be seen and
not heard" The first brush of new
conner with the older heads is always
interesting. and not infrequently con-
fusing to the recent arrival, be he
ever so well equipped.
People or Nevada are rightfully in
terested in experiences of their Rep
resentative; therefore when they
learn that Congressman Arentz was
returned a winner in his first en-
counter with men like Walsh of Mas
sachusetts, Carter, Sinnott, Knutson,
Mondell Madden. Stephens, and Kin
kaid there will be cause for rejoic-
ing, particularly as the matter was
one which vitality affects this year
many irrigation projects of the West.
On the call of the House calendar
last Monday, House joint resolution
No. SO came up. 1t IL ito authorize
the Secretary of the Interior. in his
discretion. to furnish water to appli-
cants and entrymen in arrears for
more than one calendar year of pay
for int
tion charges, Notwithstanding the
provisions of section 6 of the act of
August 13. 1914.9
A few scattering extracts from the
Congressional Record of May (pages
S97 to $500 will indicate what fol-
lowed:
Mr.. Walsh: | would like to come
upon time when for once, so far as
legislation is concerned, there are not
unusual conditions in the West be-
cause of the fault of legislation TAX
ing people subject to the law out of
the provisions of the law The gen.
tleman from Wyoming has seen us
make exception after exception here
until finally the law as passed has
broken down.
Mr.. Walsh (again. later); Mr.
Speaker, I do not think we ought to
establish the precedent for this sort
of legislation, and | object. What is
going to be the situation if they have
poor crop year?
Mr.. Sinnott: They will have to
hustle and raise the money to meet
their payments when they become
due. Possibly the financial situation
will be better next fall. In great
many places in the country the farm
ers are actually unable to pay their
taxes on account of the crop condi-
tions.
Mr.. Walsh l object.
Mr.. Madden I think they ought to
be given the right to raise the crops
that are needed out there, and the
government certainly cannot do less
than is being asked for in this bill.
Mr.. Arentz: Will the gentleman
yield?
Mr.. Kinkaid: yield to the gentle
man from Nevada.
Mr.. Arentz: Mr.. Speaker, l happen
to live In community where this
measure would be effective for great
good to the financially unprepared,
developing arid lands into homes un-
der government projects; in sec
ton of our country, in the West,
where the cost of production last year
of both livestock and farm products
was more than they could be sold for.
For instance, the cost of production
of alfalfa last year was approximate
ly $40 a ton. The first payment for
ditch maintenance and construction
was due December l.
The hay could not be sold for any
price. Cattle were selling around five
and six cents on the hoof. You could
not sell the hay to the sheepmen, and
these are the only two outlets for the
hay, except shipping it out of the
State, and in most cases this Is pro-