The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-04-21
SM|TH-M' NARY BILL
BEING DISCUSSED
PERSONAL CANVASS OF ALL MEM.
TO 6E MADE nv CONGRESS
MEN FROM WEST
idaho Representative is chaIrman Of
Committee TO Work For RecIama-
tlon; Work of Canvass Of
House 10 start This Week

Washington, ID. CA personal cam
vass win be made OF all members of
the house OF representatives, begin
ming this week, with a view OF ac-
quainfing them with the provisions and
the Importance OF the smith-McNary
bin, In the hope that such campaign
OF education may develop sufficient
interest generally In the bin TO insure
It's passage this session. Determine
tion upon this plan was reached Sat
urday at dinner attended by most
congressman from the west, and by
some from the south, the dinner hay-
Ing been arranged TO agree upon some
plan for popping up the campaign
Tor the new reclamation bill.
Representative French Of Idaho was
made chairman of the booster" com
mittee Of twenty-seven members OF
congress-, all from the west and south,
and this committee will direct the
campaign of education. Serving on
this committee will be Congressman
Cotton and Lcatherwood OF Utah,
French and Smith OF Idaho. Mccormick
and Riddick of Montana and twenty
one others. Representative Mondell
OF Wyoming, by reason of mis- position
as house floor leader, will not serve
with the committee.
Representative French Sunday as.
signed to each member of his com.
mittee list OF from fifteen to TWEEN
ty members to be interviewed, there
by embracing the full membership of
the house, and he says steps will be
taken at once 10 get the canvass un-
der way. This same plan was fol.
lowed. Mr.. French says, when the
western members organized and put
through the twenty-year extension bill.
and the plan was 30 successful that
the conference Saturday night agreed
to resort to the same tactics again.
In the meeting Saturday night, there
was some difference Of opinion as to
whether the bin should be pressed In
the house now or await action by the
senate. Some members thought the
bill would be In better standing II II
should pass the senate before being
brought generally to the attention of
house members; but the prevailing
sentiment was favor OF going ahead
In the house, Irrespective of what the
senate may do. especially as II was
stated no definite plans have yet been
made to bring this bill up for consld.
Grafton In the senate. 1t was also
realized that If the bill did not get
up In the senate before debate starts
on the tariff bill 1t may be long de-
layed In the upper branch Of congress.
Furthermore. sentiment is develop.
Ing In the house In favor of series
OF recesses beginning early In May,
after the appropriation bills have all
been passed by that body. and II that
plan is followed, II win be necessary
10 get a vote ON the Smith,McNary
bill before the recess starts. or It may
be Impossible to get II 30 vote this
session.
Western members who attended the
conference recognized that II will be
no easy task to get so Important bill
passed at time when the treasury Is
empty: when taxes are falling short
of expectations. and when the fiscal
situation 10 30 unsatisfactory. But
they believe that an educational cam
paign. personally and persistently con
Quoted, will get sufficient votes In time
They expect the canvass of the house
may require several weeks.