Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-28
LittleChance
> of Reclamation
Bill Passing
Big Projects in Western Ne.
brsska Will Suffer II
Measure fails-Harding
Noncommittal.


Nary reclamation bill seems abou,
10 isil by the wayside for another
session, probably until a new con-
sress meets IN 1928, Favofably ts-
ported by house and senate e6m-
niiitses and on the calendar in both
bodies. proponents OF the bill have
besH bssisging the White House for
the go,ahsad signal. They have me,
with The usual cordial reception. but
lave found Mr.. Harding noneommit-
tal.
About the best the advocates al
the bill move hope for Is that II may
be passed without any immediate ap-
preparation of funds. carrying erly
the general authorization for an ap.
preparation over a term OF years ti
the round sum OF S5sn.0ool0op. This
would put congress on record IA
iayor Of the program. but would by
no means satisfy the reelamalionisls.
who wish a substantial and actual
cash appropriation with which 10
initiate the work.
On the other hand. a cash lppro-
nFiation OF say only S20.0O0,DG0. a
!. figure. hy the way. already greatly
reduced from the original demand.
does not seem TO fall in with the ad-
minis,raiion view OF what is best
for a hard-beset treasury. Tax re-
turns have been shrinking so alarm
ingly OF late as TO greatly strengthen
the responsible party leaders in their
insistenee upon the utmost in econ-
omy.
Bonus Big Factor.
Another factor in the question is
the presence in the house bill OF The
land settlement feature for soldiers
as contained in the original Mondell
bill. creating an independent soldier
settlement board. Senator McCum-
ber of North Dakota. chairman OF
the finance committee which has
charge OF the bonus bill in the upper
house. is said to be out after its land
settlement and reclamation provi-
sions with strong AK ground to
fine point.
The North Dakotan's aversion 10
reclamation dates from the early |
failure Of the Willis,on project in his |
home state some wears ago. In this |
enterprise. irrigation bv pumping |
proved costly experiment. not
naying the expense OF the operation.
II was unfortunate for the cause It
reclamation that practically its only
failure should have been in Scna-
tor NcCrmber's state.
While he American Legion repre-
sentatives in WASHINGTON are not
fighting the Smith-McNarv bill.
thcv are. OF course. actively for the
soldier settlement feature OF the bon
us bill. n the latter should fail they
would he for a more general reclama-
ton legislation as under the general
law now existing the veteran has
60-dav entry preference where new
sn-a,,;SSsr are .nnened zip. Moreover
the Smith. .McNarv bill provides that
cxserv;ce men be given preference
as aonl;cants for employment on any
project work. - - ~.
Question of Legality.
It is argued in favor OF the sol.
dier settlement reclamation proposal
that there will be no question as to
the onstirut.onality of the legisla-
ton, the appropriations being made
specifically and primarily tor the
benefit Of former soldiers. On the
other hand. it is contended that there
is some. question concerning the
Smith McNary bill, which would
tax all OF the states for work that
can be done in only part OF the
country. The rest, Of course, would
receive indirect benefits.
The stake of the west is great
under either bill. For instance. in
Nebraska there is the great project
on the lower Platte between North
Platte and Kearney, which would
exceed, the existing North Platte
project in magnitude. This great
enterprise is now being mapped out
and surveyed under a special. ap-
preparation. The field work will be
completed this month. Feasible
reservoir sites have been selected and
the high lise canals have been laid
out.
F. F. Smith, the engineer in
charge, will take about three months
longer to complete the Office work
in connection with survey, and then
will be able to report. In partial
reports made from time to time he
has indicated that there will be
enough Of drop in the principal
canal, one Of nearly $50 feet, to al
sford fine power possibilities.
Nebraska Cost Low.
General Goethals, reporting recent
ly on the great Columbia Basin
project in the state of Washington,
recommended that construction be
proceeded with. despite the fact that
the cost is estimated to be as. high
as Sl45 an acre. The estimated cost
Of the lower Platte project is not
a half or third that much.
The rs existing reclamation
projects OF the country, upon which
work is still being done, will not be
affected by the fate OF the Smith
McNary bill. They were cared Tor
in the interior department appropria-
ton bill. For the fiscal year end
ing July !, lSIo, the Nottn id.te
project gets an appropriation of ST.
100000. This is the second largest
of existing projects. costing SILL
100000. The Boise (1daho) project
calls for $l2.s000OO.
Over $l,250,000 has already been
paid into the government treasury
on the North Platte project. Only
about S25o,000 is overdue on this
enterprise as a result Of the recent
price crisis in farm products. The
sum in arrears is but an insignificant
part of the whole. The rights OF
those who are behind in their pay
ments has been fully protected by
special legislation. /
No Overproducton.