The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-07-20
french sure M'NARY
BILL W|LLPASS soon
Idaho Congressman Discusses Status
OF Irrigation Measures Before
COngress--Idaho SOlOns Act
i've in Campaign
For Funds

THAT the Smith-McNary reclama-
tion measure, carrying $250,00O, 900
of which from 100000 to $780,
600 900 would become available an
nually as it could be judiciously
spent, would pass congress in the
near future was the confident pre-
diction made Tuesday evening by
Burton L. French, Idaho congress
man." says the Caldwell Tribune in
its account of meeting beld there.
while the measure as now drafted
might not be the one finally acted
upon, Congressman French express
ed the belief that the law, as passed,
would not be materially different
from the bill now on both the house
and senate calendar after having
been reported favorably by COM
mittees in both houses.
Two hundred business men, inter-
ested in reclamation, from Caldwell,
Emmett, Parma, Middleton and
Notus attended the meeting at the
Caldwell Commercial club rooms
Tuesday evening.
Objections Cited
Three things stand in the way of
reclamation development, so far as
favorable congressional action is con
cerned. CONGRESSMAN French told his
attentive audience. The first is the
purify political one of lack of votes
from western states. Either the New
York of the Pennsylvania delegation,
he pointed out, were numerically
strong enough to offset the entire
voting power of representatives from
western reclamation states. Educa-
tion, to convince eastern people and
their representatives that reclama-
ton is not a sectional policy, but
rather of nation wide Importance, is
the only means of overcoming this
potential opposition, the congress
man pointed out.
Other objections raised are delin-
quent payments from completed
projects and reports, freely circulat-
ed at Washington, that the west was
seeking to have reclamation exnend
itures made outright gifts.
"You know and I know" Con-
gressman French declared, that
these reports have no basis IN fact.
We of the west are willing to pay
for what we get. But, nevertheless
those reports are being circulated
and they do harm proposals to fur
ther reclamation"
Borah Measure Discussed
Sneaking of a measure introduced
in the senate early this week py
Senator Borah which would prolong
the time of payment on federal pro-
,ects from 20 to 40 years, Mr.
French asserted that there would
unouestionably be serious opposition
to the measure. He declared now
ever, to forecast its probable rate.
objection to the measure wouid
come from those who see In 1t the
opening wedge for cancelling re-
clamation expenditures In favor OF
the project settlers and from those
who oppose reclamation generally
On the other hand, Mr.. French De-
ieves the measure could be support
ed on the ground that when the re-
clamation bill was originally passed.
costs of, projects per acre were FAR
lower than at present and 1t was not
presumed at the time that $lOo or
more per acre must be repaid in ~
years.
Tracing the history of reciama-
nation in the West. Congressman
French lauded Marcus Whitman as
the true pioneer of the west, the
men who saved the great northwest
to the United States and who made
the development of these arid West
, ern lands possible.
Emmett people were lauded ior
their work in evolving the pian'
adopted by the reclamation service
and now become reality, for IT.
rigation OF Emmett Irrigation as
trict lands and the reclamation OIL
Black Canyon. Congressman French