The Delta independent., 1923-12-28
CRlSIS IN RECLAMATION
WORK MUST HAVE PROMPT
ATTENTION OF CONGRESS

Wasf gton. Dec 27.-The annual
report the Secretary of the Interior
shows at department has been liv-
ing up 10 the spirit of the economy
gram G the Republican administra-
ton. / ing the last year its routine
expend res were $22.5S4,OOO less
than tn. previous year Notwithstand
ing this rye reduction in expenditure
the deT tment has transacted more
busines d practically every one of its
bureau IAN in any previous year.
In Cor ing his report to the Presi-
dent aua the Congress. Secretary of
the Inter T Hubert Work discusses at
some lea tn the crisis now confront
ing rec lmation work. Upon this
point h. ays:
"Ther. are several matters of pub
lie mon. {. however. that should com.
mand d prompt attention of the
Presiden- and Congress. I refer to
critical uation that has developed
in the ey nditures of the government
running TO a sum near S1S6,OOOOO
in tn @ struction and maintenance
of projee- for the rsclaiming of arid
and semi rid lands.
The u Iamation law provides that
the cost f construction of each pro-
ject shall be paid within a 2O-year
period L installments of fixed
amounts nd also provides the annual
maintenaE &c cost, including operation,
shall be aid annually by the water
users. cut Of the IS projects con
structed r in the course of CON
struction, only one Of these proje- is
has fully complied with this require
ment Notwithstanding tina relief ex-
tending time of payment on three oc-
casions has been granted by Congress.
A number OF them are in a state OF
financial insolvency. making it i'm
possible for the government to recov-
er the money invested in them, while
other projects are in such a dubious
state that it is difficult to presage at
the present time whether they will
ultimately pay out.
In order to ascertain the true con-
ditions have appointed a special com
mittee Of advisers composed Of disin-
crested citizens Of national promin-
ence. familiar with irrigation matters,
who have begun an exhaustive analys-
is Of the entire reclamation require
ments, methods and policies This
/ committee is composed Of former Gov.
Thomas f. Campbell Of Arizona: DR..
. T1rrr NKTfEgv-nR 4
Of the State university and State Agri-
cultural college of Utah; President
julius A Barnes, of the United
| States Chamber of Commerce. former
Secretary Of the Interior, James R.
| Garfield, OF Ohio: President Oscar A.
Bradfute, Of the American Farm Bur
eau Federation; Hon Elwood Mead.
engineer and authority on irrigation
and reclamation, OF California, and
Hon. Clyde c. Dawson. an authority on
reclamation law. of Colorado.
'As soon as their work is completed
| I expect TO submit their report with
| recommendations to the President. A
supplementary report containing rec
[ concentrations for whatever change in
| policy is decided necessary to protect
the government from further losses on
reclamation projects and 10 bring re-
| lief 20 the water users. will also be
submitted subsequently. This does
not mean that the theory Of govern
ment reclamation is unsound. It
merely means that new policy must
| be developed that viii safeguard the
future so that the government may
proceed In a more orderly and busi.
ness-like manner in its redemption Of
the arid and semi-arid lands Of the
/ West"