The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-01-29
BELIEVES THAT
RELIEF COMING
FOR SETTLERS
l.. j. Magee Returns from
Salt Lake With Mes
sage of Cheer for Pro-
ject Land Owners

Relief for settlers on federal pro-
jects is sure. in the opinion OF L. J..
Magee. secretary OF the Payettc- Boise
Water Users association, who re-
turned Monday from Salt Lake where
he was in continuous attendance at
hearings conducted there by the fed
eral fact finding commission. just
what form relief will take, Mr. Magee
did not venture to hazard a guess
but he expressed the belief that il will
be adequate and promptly forthoom-
ing, providing congress reacts favor
ably to the commissions recommenda-
tions.
Hearings were concluded Saturday,
according to Mr.. Magee. and the
members of the commission promptly
left for Washington. Report OF their
findings will be available in about 90
days, it is understood.
About the final important thing
presentation to the commission of a
series of recommendation in the form
of resolutions drafted by the water
users federation. a union of project
representatives This report was
cordially received by the commission
and Mr.. Magee is optimistic that
some form of relief which may be
granted will be prcfaced largely on
these recommendations
The resolutions follow;
Having followed the proceedings of
the Salt Lake hearing of the fact
finding commission eight consecutive
days and watching the testimony
gradually crystalline, number of the
reclamation projects met and agreed
to adopt the following resolutions with
the hope of having the recommenda-
tons passed on through your commits
sion to the secretary of the interior
and to congress:
81. Resolved, that we favor early
congressional action definitely author
izing and empowering the secretary
OF the itnerior, at his discretion, to
suspend, readjust and reassess all ex-
listing charges against the water users
on reclamation projects, in accord
ance with the recommendations of
President Coolidge to congress.
"2 We suggest the land on the
projects be classified according to the
best methods known at the present
moment into four or more groups.
the last of which shall contain all
lands on which payments of con-
struction are temporarily suspended,
understanding that land which has no
chance OF paying out be not included
in any group; also that system be
evolved to make this plan practicable.
g. That each class of land shall
return annually on March con-
struction repayments for the preced-
ing year OF not to exceed FIVE (5) per
cent of the gross crop returns of the
class to which it belongs, taking into
the probable net returns
until the total chargess assessed
against said land are repaid to the
reclamation fund
Land Release
- That when the individual water
nserss pays the construction charges
assessed against his land, said land
S released by the government from
my further changes OF liens, whether
held under district form or water users
iorm OF contract.
IS That the management and con-
troll of all completed projects. or OF
units OF a project, and all
assets OF said project be turned over
10 the water users who have the right
10 decide whether they organize as an
irrigation district or as water users
association.
%. That Il moratorium on all con-
'truction repayments be declared. the
ength OF time for each project 10 be
determined by the secretary OF the
Interior and at the time so desig-
iated; all construction costs due
against the land, together with all
lccruels, will be combined and set
over to said date. when construction
lepaymenis will again accrue and be
aid according to the crop repayment
plan.
-. That the water users on the
projects are unable to pay interest
IN accrued construction costs. and