The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-04-22
Farm Relief
Law Urged
by Coolidge
Revision Of Reclamation Stat.
ute i'm Accordance With
Secretary Works Report.
Suggested TO Congress.
Definite Policy" Asked

Washington. April 21.-Immedlate
revision OF the reclamation law along
the lines indicated In the report OF
Secretary Works fact finding COM
mission was recommended TO con-
gress today by President Coolidge.
In special message the president
declared adoption OF definite poll
icy" toward reclamation projects to
be imperative. and asked that per
manent relief for settlers. rather
than temporary extensions in rec
lamation payments, be authorized by
| Law.
The message follows:
"T would respectfully urge on con-
| gress the immediate necessity OF re-
vising the present reclamation law.
THE secretary OF the interior ap.
pointed a special advisory committee
of six members to study reclamation
and make reports to him. That COM
mlttee has completed its work and
has made It's report to the secretary
Of the interior and he has transmit
ted that report to me and herewith
transmit IL TO you.
Ip Financial Distress.
Many occupants Of our reclama-
ton projects In the west are In finan-
cial distress. They are unable to
pay the charges assessed against
them. In some instances settlers are
living on irrigated lands that will not
return livelihood for their families
and At the same time pay the money
due TO the government as II falls due.
Temporary extensions OF time and
suspension OF these charges serve
only TO increase their debts and add
70 their hardshIps. a definite policy
Il Imperative and permanent relief
should be applied where Indicated.
The heretofore adopted repayment
plan Is erroneous IN principle and
In many cases impossible OF ACCOM-
plirhInent. II fixes an annual ar
bItrary amount that the farmers must
pay ON the construction costs of prof.
ects regardless OF their production.
In ifs place should be substituted
a new policy providing that pay.
ments shall be assessed by the gov.
ernment In accordance with the crop
producing quality OF the sol.
The facts developed by the spe.
cial advisory committee show that of
the governments total investment.
sis.s51.1s5 viii never be recovered.
There will be probable loss OF an
additional ss.sso.000 These sums
represent expenditures in the con.
afruction Of reservoirs. canals and
other work for the irrigation OF lands
that have proven unproductiye.
Charge orr Sum.
Il recommend that congress su.
thorize the charging off Of such sums
shown TO be impossible on collection.
Because OF high rates OF interest
and other agricultural difficulties cx.
isiiBg. farmers are often unable 20
borrow money for temporary relief
The establishment Of a credit fund bv
the government from which farmers
on projects may secure capital 10
make permanent improvements and
buy equipment and live stock should
be considered.
| The probabls loss snd the TEN.
porary difficulties OF some OF the set.
tiers on projects does not mean that
reclamation is failure. Tho sum 10.
fai Of beneficial results has been
large In the building up OF towns and
agricultural communities and IL add
Ing tremendously 20 the agricultural
production and wealth OF the coun.
try. Whatever legislation IL neces.
sary 10 the advancement ~ reciana.
fion should be enacted without de.
lay"