Arizona republican., 1921-12-07

ness for the government to pro-
 vide for the reclamation of the
 remaining 20,ooo, 900 acres, in ad-
 dtion to expediting the comple-
 tion of projects long under way. COAL AND GAS LEASES
 Under what is known as the coal and gas lease law, applicable also to deposits of phosphates and other minerals on the public domain, leases are now being made on the royalty basis, and are producing large rev enues to the government. Under this legislation, 10 per centum of all roy alties is to be paid directly to the fed- eral treasury and of the remainder 50 per centum is to be used for ! reclamation of arid lands by irriga- tion and 40 per centum is to be paid to the states in which the operations are located, to be used by them for school and road purposes.
 These resources are so vast and the development is affording so re- liable basis of estimate that the interior department expresses the be- lief that ultimately the present law will add in royalties and payments to the treasuries of the federal gov ! ernment and the states containing these public lands a total of sI2,- 0,000,000. This means, of course, an added wealth of many times that sum. These prospects seem to af- ford every justification of govern ment advances in reclamation and ! irrigation.
 RECLAIM SWAMP LANDS | contemplating the inevitable and 1 desirable increase of population, there Is another phase of reclamation full worthy of consideration. There ! are 79.000,000 acres of swamp cut over lands which may be reclaimed and made as valuable as any farm | lands we possess. These areas are l largely located in southern states. and the greater proportion is owned by the states or by private citizens Congress has report of the survey of this field for reclamation, and 1 feasibility is established. I gladly commend federal aid by way of ad- vances where state and private par ticipation is assured.
 AMERICAN HOMES
 Home making is one of the greater benefits which government can be- l stow. Measures are pending eri- oodying these sound policies to which We may well adhere. It is easily pos sible to make available permanent homes which will provide, in turn, for prosperous American families, with out injurious competition with estab- hshed activities, or imposition on wealth already acquired.
 RUSSIAN FAMINE
 While We are thinking of prornot- ing the fortunes of our own people. am sure there Is room in the sym pathetic thought of America for fel- low human beings who are suffering and dying of starvation in Russia A severe drought in the valley of the Nolga has plunged 15,000. .0oo people into grievous famine. Our voluntary agencies are exerting themselves to the utmost to save the lives of chfI- dren in this area. but it is now evil dent that unless relief is afforded the loss of life will extend into many mil lions. America can not be deaf 10 such a call as that.
 We do not recognize the govern ment Of Russia, nor tolerate the propaganda which emanates there from, but we do not forget the tra- dftions of Russian friendship. We may put aside our consideration of all international politics and fnnda- mental differences in government The big thing is the call of the suffer ing and the dying. Unreservedly I recommend the appropriation neces- sary to supply the American relief administration with 10000. 900 bushels Of corn and 1000 900 bushels of seed grains. not alone to halt the wave of death through starvation, but to en- able spring planting in areas where seed grains have been exhausted temporarily to stem starvation
 The American relief administra- ton is directed in Russia by former officers of our own armies and has fully demonstrated its ability to transport and distribute relief through American hands without hindrance or loss The time has come to add the | EOKRrnmGnf n ra Ar~-N relief already wrought out of the generosity of the American private purse.
 T am not unaware that we have suffering and privation at home. When it extends the capacity for the relief within the states concerned, 1t will have federal consideration. If seems to me we should be indifferent to our own heart promptings and out or accord with the spirit which ac- claims the Christmastide if we do not slve out Of our national abundance to tighten this burden of woe upon a people blameless and helpless in fam ines peril.
 PUBLIC DEBT
 There are full score of topics con- corning which it would be becoming to address you, and on which l hope to make report at later time. I have alluded to the things requiring your earlier attention. However. I cannot end this limited address with out a suggested amendment to the organic law
 Many of us belong to that school of thought which is hesitant about altering the fundamental law. think our tax problems, the tendency of wealth to seek non- taxable invest ment. and the menacing increase of public debt, federal, stateI and mu- nipal, all justifies proposal to change the constitution so as to end the issue of non-taxable bonds No action can change the status of the many billions outstanding but we can guard against future encourage ment of capital paralysis, while a halt in the growth of public indebt- edness would be beneficial throughout our whole land
 Such a change in the constitution must be very thoroughly considered before submission. There ought to be known what influence it will have on the inevitable refunding of our vast national debt, how it win operate on the necessary refunding of state and municipal debt, how the advantages Of nation over state and municipal or the contrary may be avoided. Clear ly the states would not ratify to their own apparent disadvantage. I sug- gest the consideration because the drift of wealth into non- taxable secu- rites is hindering the flow of large capital to our industries. manufactur- ing, agricultural and carving r1utfI