More Fact Finders

Dr. Hubert Work, Secretary of the Interior, resorted to the expedient, now no longer novel, of appointing a " fact finding commission" to attempt to solve a difficult problem. It is the problem of irrigating the arid and semi-arid lands of the West. The Government has invested over $100,000,000 in this activity, and now finds that it will have difficulty in getting its money back.

Accordingly Secretary Work invited seven men " having national confidence " to serve as a commission to find a way to extricate the Government from its difficulty. They are:

Former Governor Thomas Edward Campbell of Arizona. (He had the exceptional experience of serving as a state Governor for almost a year without being elected. He was apparently elected Governor in 1916 and served in office from January to late in December, when a recount showed that his opponent had a plurality of 43 votes. He was really elected, however, in 1918 and again in 1920).

Former Governor David William Davis of Idaho, a Welshman by birth. (Although brought to this country in infancy, he asserted his birthright by becoming a coal miner at the age of twelve.)

Fomer Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield of Cleveland, son of President Garfield, and Secretary of the Interior (1907-1909) under President Roosevelt.

Julius Howland Barnes of Washington, D. C., President of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, wheat exporter and Wheat Director of the U. S. under President Wilson 1919-1920.

Oscar Edwin Bradfute, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and cattle-breeder of Xenia, Ohio.

Elwood Mead, of Berkeley, engineer, and international authority on irrigation and drainage.

Dr. John Andreas Widtsoe, of Salt Lake City, former President of the

University of Utah, a Norwegian by birth, and one of the Twelve Apostles of the (Mormon) Church of the Latter Day Saints.

The problem which Secretary Work placed before these men is briefly: The U. S. has invested $134,000,000 in irrigation projects; $14,000,000 of this amount has been returned; $6,000,000 remained due and unpaid to the Government at the end of 1922; more delays are asked for on this year's payments; it is feared that the settlers on the irrigated land may never be able to pay, in which event the settlers will lose their homes and the Government its money.

The Commission will be provided with "suitable offices, necessary data and the courteous assistance of the Bureau of Reclamation." No mention was made of pay. In his letters to the seven prospective commissioners Secretary Work added:

"Although only recently charged with the responsibility of Reclamation, I am not a stranger to the irrigation of arid lands, but prefer, however, not to suggest procedure and would not expect to advance opinions to this commission unless requested, asking only that the questions may be treated with open publicity and that I may transmit your report to

Congress."