The Washington herald., 1921-07-27
REPRESENTATIVE RIDDICK
WOULDFINISH IRRIGATION
Montana Congressman
Writes Herald of His
Bill to Complete West
ern Projects.

To the Editor. The Washington herad'
The Second Montana district
which 1 represent, is the largest
rCongressional district in the united
states. From the northwest corner
to the southeast corner OF the ols
trict "a about as far as from Wash
inrton 10 Chicago. The district Is
two and a half times the size OIL
the State of Indiana, ana Is oe-
voted to grain farming. stock rais-
ing, and mining.
am a rancher and member or
the House Agricultural Committee
I am interested in-securing legisla-
tion that will give increased credits
and better markets to farmers.
have favored legislation to give
proper governmental supervision OF
the livestock. packer and grain
buying business, to the end that pro-
ducers shall have a free and open
market for their products and that
there may be no undue speculation.
cornering of markets, or profteor-
ing in the spread between what the
producer receives and what the con-
sumner has to pay.
had two sons IN the overseas
Il
am especially interested in Iegisla.
tion that will give prompt and gen.
erous care to all disabled former
service men. / am for rigid econ
omy in every governmental depart
ment and have taken a decided
stand in opposition to the many
war claims before Congress filed
by sugar importers, elevator men,
and others / am an ardent advocate
of President Harding's plan for
world disarmament. and vote with
the drys whenever temperance
legislation is before the House.
l have a bill before Congress pro-
vidinE for a Federal loan of s5o
100000 to be used as a revolving
fund to complete the irrfgation
projects now under way in West
ern States, where the work was
suspended at the outbreak of the
war. l believe the use Of all avail
able water for irrigation in the
semiarid States of the West is ab-
solutely necessary to stabilize the
pursuit Of agriculture in those Sec
tions, and that to neglect this
work because of the expense in
Volved is to save at the spigot and
lose at the bunghoIe.
Because OF the great distances
in Montana, many who have busi-
ness before the United States Court
are denied justice by the expense
incidental TO travelling these long
distances with lawyers and wit
nesses. To correct this situation, 1
have a measure before Congress to.
provide for an additional United
States judge for Montana The saw
ing to the government of the tray-
cling expenses of the judge and
court officers will pay the salary
of the additional judge sought.
There are five Indian reservations
in the Second Montana district. In
dians on these reservations are re-
garded as incompetents and are
wards of the government and the
lndianlSBureau transacts their busi-
ness for them. I believe this tends
TO destroy initiative. incentive and
progress among the Indians, and,
in cooperation with officials of the
Indian Bureau. l am seeking to
work out a policy that will put the
Western Indians upon their own
individual resources as rapidly as
possible, with legislation that will
at the same time safeguard them
against losing their property and
avoid the danger that threatens
Western States with large Indian
population from finding themselves
later on burdened with an excess of
paupers. CARL-W. RIDDICK.
House of Representatives. Wash
ington.