The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1922-11-02
Demand for Lower Taxes
Is Greatest Obstacle in
Way of Measure
MAY BE ENACTED
AT NEXT SESSION
Prospects of Money From
Regular Reclamation
Fund, Brighter

While Senator Wesley L. Jones
is not overconfident, he is hopeful
that the Smith-McNary reclama-
tion bill can be passed at the short
session of congress which convenes
in December. He fells sure that
there viii be no difficulty in put
ting it through the senate any time
that it is brought up.
Senator Jones, who is on a cam
paign speaking tour in behalf of
Senator Poindexter was a speaker
at Commercial Club luncheon
Thursday noon. Speaking before
the club the senator refrained from
discussion of the political situa-
tion but dealt with some of the
big problems which he declared
should be kept out of politics.
After briefly outlining the pro-
visions Of the Smith-McNary bin
he said that the greatest obstacle
in the way Of its enactment is the
popular demand for retrenchment
in government expenditures and
the reduction of taxes. The bill
he says calls for an expenditure
of S350,000,o00 for the reclama-
tion of arid and swamp lands. Be-
fore this money can be taken out of
the treasury it must be gotten in
to the treasury from some source
and this is the thing that frightens
senators and congressman whose
constituents are clamoring for a
reduction of taxes. Yet the
senator is hopeful that the bill
may pass.
Prospects, he said, for getting
money for the Kennewick project
from the regular reclamation fund
are getting better. Revenues from
oil and gas land leases are increas-
ing and he is confident there will
be money available for the build.
ing of uncompleted units of the
Yakima project as soon as the Rim
Rock dam is completed. The time
set for its completion is in August
1924.
The transportation problem, the
senator declared, is one Of the
most serious domestic problems
with which the country has to deal
today. The periodical threats to
tie up the nations transportation
is becoming an economic burden
upon the people that cannot be en-
dured. The loss caused by these
threatened tieups falls heaviest up
on the producers Of agricultural
products. Some means must be
devised, the senator said, whereby
the dispute between capital and
labor, insofar as they affect inter-
state commerce, can be adjusted
and settled without loss to the
public. This question, the senator
declared, is not party question,
nor a class question, but one in
which the whole citizenship is vit-
ally interested
Another of the nations big
problems, Senator Jones said, is
that of marketing farm products.
Some system of distribution must
be worked out whereby the produc-
er and consumer can be brought
closer together. The senator said
he hoped that the farmers coop
erative marketing agencies would
prove a solution to this problem.
After the luncheon in speaking
of the political situation, Senator
Jones said he would consider the
defeat of Senator Poindexter q
grave loss to the state of Washing
ton. Because of the seniority rule,
because Of his wide acquaintance
| throughout the nation, because OF
his years of experience in legisla-
tive matters and his study of eco
nomic problems. Senator Poin-
dexter can render greater service
to the people Of this state than
could any new man who might be
elected senator.
Senator Jones left soon after the
luncheon for Prosser.