Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-02-22
Congressman Secrest Explains;
sMuskingum ConservancyStatus;

the district paid for lands and ease
ments plus approximately rs per
cent which is the cost to the dis
trict of acquiring the lands. This
would permit 100 percent liquida-
tion of the district and require alb
solutely no tax from the people who
own property below the dams.
In the last Congress, we secured
| an appropriation of $1,5O0,OOO. The
| bill provided that this money could
be advanced to the district when the
district gave assurance that they
would turn over assets to the fed
eral government.
The board of directors to the
Conservancy District signed an
agreement to do this and the gov
ernment last August gave the Con-
servancy District a check for ST.
100000. Some time later the
judges of the Conservancy District.
or at least majority of them, or
dered the board of directors not to
transfer any land to the federal
government in fee simple. taking
the position that the district should
retain control of the lands for con-
servation and recreational purposes.
The judges, together with some
sportsmen organizations, whose
headquarters are located in Column
bus, have suggested that the federal
government take easements on all
the districts lands. instead of fee
simple titles. If the government
take easements, they can not pay
as much for the land as the district
paid, because the district will be re-
tanning the use of the lands and all
the income during future years If
the government can not pay rs
much for easements as they do for
fee, there will be deficit, including
interest charges, or premiums on
district bonds. This may amount
to $1,000,O0O.
Opposes Burden on People
After getting a bill through Con-
gress to take the whole tax burden
off the people, / do not want to see
done that will put a part
of this burden back on the people,
even though it would be a compare
lively small part.
When the judges took the posi-
ton that they could not turn over
land to the federal government in
fee simple, they requested an opin-
ion from the attorney general as to
they could. and have been
that they take the posi-
ion that fee simple titles can not
De given to the government
| made one trip to New Philadel
)hia around Christmas time at my
1wn expense to discuss this matter
With Conservancy District officials
md the Judges of the Conservancy
Court trying to find some way to
satisfy the court and still get
enough money from the federal
government to make sure that all
he tax would be removed
Later, | met with some of the
district officials and some of the
judges. and suggested the possibil-
ty that perhaps the state would be
Wiling to advance $1.000,000 to the
district, and to have 1t paid back
,ut of future revenues from the
axes. This was no plan of mine
ont merely a suggestion. There
will be countless thousands of pe0.
Dle who viii enjoy the swimming,
boating fishing and camping made
}Ossible by the lakes and | do not
see why the people down the valley
should be compelled to pay $1,000
100 tax for the benefit Of others
The State Conservation Commits
ion gets about $1,O0OO0O a year
rom fishing and hunting Icensef
md other sources, and | thought .
hey might be willing to help share
his burden made necessary if ease
nents are sold to the federal gov
instead of fee titles.
L. S. Has Spent Much
/ realize that the state of Ohio