The Washington times., 1937-02-27
UNITED ACTION
STRESSED TO
GOVERNORS
Suggested Bill Sets
Up Protective Areas,
u. S. Grants-in-Aid
BY GEORGE DURNO
International News Service

4HSoAHHSAOn1At ANO"B OOA WV
President Roosevelt today called
upon the 48 States to join the
Federal Government in combating
floods, dust storms and drought
through enactment of a uniform
"soil conservation act" which,
subject to local referenda, would
give State and Federal conserva-
ton agencies wide powers.
An identical letter was sent to
.each governor with 64-page pro
posed bill for submission to his
legislature.
Explaining that the suggested
"land-use regulations concerning
soil erosion" could become effec-
tive only after vote of land oc-
cupiers" in each district, the Presi-
dent wrote:
Demonstration work has
been undertaken (by the Gov
ernment) but much remains to
be done. The conduct of isOl-
ated demonstration projects
cannot control erosion ade-
quately. Such work can only
point the way.
"Such legislation is imperative
to enable farmers to take the
necessary cooperative action"
An elaborate machinery for set
ting up "soil conservation dis
tricts" through referenda Is pro-
posed in the model bill. State
funds plus Federal grants-in-aid"
would defray the cost, and penal
ties would be applied to force re-
calcitrant minority land-occupiers
to join in the program of "con-
struction of terraces. check-dams,
etc.: requirements for particular
methods of cultivation; Specifica-
tions of cropping programs and
tillage practices, including rota-
tionS; and requirement that steep
or otherwise highly erosive land
be retired from cultivation"
Flood Control Bill
Held Army Custer"
by L. w. MEREDITH
International News Service
Allegations that the Barkley-
Bulkley-Secrest flood-control bill,
proposing seven regional authori-
ties to administer flood-control
programs, was intended to subordi-
nate the Army corps of engineers
to politically-appointed boards and
throw the control program into
politics, were placed before Con-
gress today.
The United States Flood Con-
troll Federation, at a meeting at
tended by representatives from
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jer'
sey, Ohio and 81 Mississippi Val
ley States, in lodging the com
plant, praised the "non-political
and unbiased" flood-control record
of the Army engineers.
It assailed as potentially dan
gerous and vicious" any Federal
legislation which would have the
effect of throwing flood control,
which is to say the safety, health
and welfare of our people, into
politics"
Opposed to Provisions
Resolutions bluntly asserted the
group was opposed to the "prin-
ciples and formula" embodied in
the bill sponsored by Senators
Barkley CD of Kentucky and
Bulkley CD Of Ohio and Repre-
sentative Secrest Cd Of Ohio,
"or any like legislation"
Led by State Senator William
D.. Rodgers of Pennsylvania, presl-
dent, and Tom R. Hutton. editor
of the Binghamton IN. " Press,
chairman Of the resolutions com.
mittee, the federation adopted
resolutions declaring it was "un-
alterably opposed to and con-
demnS without reservation any
proposed legislation which would:
"(a) Deprive the United States
Army engineers of the author.
ity and determination now vested
in them by Congress with re-
Spect to flOOd-cOntrOl measures
which would transfer or invali-
date any such authority through
the establishment of regional or
other supervisory boards. COM
missions or authorities.
"(b) Either directly or indi-
rectly violate the fundamental
non-pOIiticaI principles enunci-
ated by the flood control act Of
1885,"
That act provided for State par
ticipation in the flood-control pro-
gram, and provided for all work to
be done under the direction of the
Army Board of Engineers.
AIIaoed SIasher Seized