ON RECLAMATION PROJECTS (273 315 U.S. Congress. House. HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION OF ARID LANDS. SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS ON S. 4187 TO EXTEND THE TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CHARGES M.E.A. 1923 EXTENSION OF CONSTRUCTION CHARGES ON RECLAMA- COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION OF ARID LANDS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 25, 1923. The committee assembled at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Addison T. Smith (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Since the hearings began, we have been receiving information concerning conditions on reclamation projects from representatives of the settlers on three or four of the projects. We have extended a hearing to every person representing the settlers who has requested a hearing, and given all the time that was desired. (The bill under consideration (S. 4187) is here printed in full, as follows:) [S. 4187, Sixty-seventh Congress, fourth session.] AN ACT To extend the time for payment of charges due on reclamation projects, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1 of the act entitled "An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend the time for payment of charges due on reclamation projects, and for other purposes," approved March 31, 1922, is amended by striking out the words "one year where they appear in such section and inserting in lieu thereof the words two years." 66 SEC. 2. That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in the manner and subject to the conditions imposed by such act of March 31, 1922, to extend for a period not exceeding two years from December 31, 1922, the date of any payment of any charge the date of payment of which has been extended under the provisions of section 1 of such act. SEC. 3. That every charge, the date of payment of which is extended under the provisions of section 2 of this act, shall draw interest at the rate of 6 per centum per annum from the date from which it was so extended in lieu of any penalty that may now be provided by law, but in case such charge is not paid at the end of the period for which it is so extended any such penalty shall attach from the date the charge was originally due, as if no extension had been granted. 66 SEC. 4. That section 2 of such act of March 31, 1922, is amended by striking out the words season of 1922" where they appear in such section and by inserting in lieu thereof the words seasons of 1922 and 1923." 66 SEC. 5. That where an individual water user, or individual applicant for a water right under a Federal irrigation project constructed or being constructed under the act of June 17, 1902 (Thirty-second Statutes at Large, page 388), or any act amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, is unable to pay any construction or operation and maintenance charge due for the year 1922, or prior thereto, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized in his discretion to add such accrued and unpaid charges to the construction charge of the land of such water user or applicant, and to distribute such accumulated charges equally over each of the subsequent years, beginning with the year 1924, at such rate per year as will complete the payment during the remaining years of the twenty-year period of payment of the original construction charge: Provided, That upon such adjustment being made, any penalties or interest which may have accrued in connection with such unpaid 47 |