The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-05-03


1t is the question whether Gov
ernment lrriga ion, Governnlt 1T
water, and Government reclama-
ton shall benefit the big lano-
owner or the small.
The issue is now one of the hct-
test fights both in California add
in Congress, where Secretary of
the Interior Ickes has been called
to testify on a rider which Con-
gresham Elliott and Carter of
California have skilfully struggled
into the rivers and harbors bill
"a rider permitting big landown-
ers in CALIFORNIA; central valley
to benefit from Government low
cost irrigation.
The question in Teddy ROOse-
velt's day was whether any
farmer holding more than 16O
acres should benefit from gov
eminent irrigation. The issue
arose when the land kings of
the Far West wanted to develop
their ranches anil speculative
holdings through irrigation at
Government expense.
The West was for it, but the
East objected. Eastern states
claimed they would be footing the
tax bill and that western irri-
cation would come out Of their
pockets. The West replied that
the irrigation projects of that day
would provide benefits for small
eastern farmers who migrated
Westward tomorrow.
After a terrific battle, Teddy
Roosevelt won out. Congress
ruled that Government-irrigated
land tracts must be limited to
16O acres.
The law still stands. But Repub-
lican Congressman Carter of Oak
land, California, and Democratic
Congressman Elliott of Tulare,
California, have ganged up to
change it with a rider eXempting
the central valley irrigation pro-
ject.
Their amendment, already passed
by the House, would mean that
big ranchers in the central valley
could benefit from the new irri-
cation project no matter how eX-
tenSive their holdings. Even more
important, it would mean that q
lot of new land, not extensively
cultivated at present, would be
subjected to cut-throat specula-
ton.
ICKES FOR SMALL FARMS
Secretary of the Interior Ickes,
who has supervised the expendi-
ture for 100000 on central
valley irrigation, is determined
that the benefits shall not go to
land spectators and big ranchers,
plus some of the big liquor COM
panies which have bought up
California wineries.
Also. the Interior Department
proposes to open some of the land
TO the use OF veterans after the
war. and has found that 100 acres
is the ideal size for one family
cultivation.
The issue, according 10 Sec.
rotary Ickes, Is whether the u.
5. A. Is going 10 become q ma
ton Of large landowners hiring
Okies and tenant farmers, or
whether the nation will fea.
ture medium -sized farmers OPP
Grating their own land.
NOTE; Business men In the
central valley are split over the
ssue. Many merchants believe
hat medium sized farms rather
than poorer farm labor make
for better business In neighbour
ing towns, The Fresno Chamber
OF Commerce calls 90 10 30 acres
OF figs an economic unit for a
family, or 30 10 100 acres OF al
falfa. The Chamber has sent
out booklets urging settlers 10
take np small land tracts.
VANDENBERG c0OLs
ON MAC ARTHUR
Senator Vandenberg. hitherto
chief To0ter and adviser OF Mac
Arthur for President, was talking
10 MaeAftbur's ex-Wife. Mrs. Al
Heiberg, after the generals anti
administration letters were pub.
llshed by Congressman Miller OF
Nebraska.
''iiew Is DOug'S campaign pro.
gTessingf" asked AGFn. IIeibeFg.
Vandenberg, who strongly dis
approved publication OF KAcAr-
thurs critical letters. replied:
I'm the tE-manageF % your
eS-hmsband."
RUSH HOLT FOE GOVERNOR
Demagogic ex-senator Rush d.
Holt, who came 10 WaehluGt0n m