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suggested that a provision be inserted in the bill giving the Secretary of the Interior full authority to determine the ability of the district to pay and that the creditors of the district be required to reduce their claims against the district to that amount.

The bureau is informed that on July 1 title to 30,000 acres in the Palo Verde Valley will pass to the district because of delinquent tax sales. What is to be done with this land, how it is to be sold, to whom, and on what terms, is a matter of interest to the Government, if Government assistance is to be given. The way these lands are handled can directly contribute to the future welfare of the community. The district should be required, as a condition precedent to Federal assistance, to acquire title to these lands and to sell them at an appraised value not to exceed the accrued taxes, interest, and penalties, on easy terms with preference given to former owners. Under the State law the district can do this. Furthermore it would be exceedingly helpful if the holders of the outstanding indebtedness also would create a financing company to assist the returning settlers to get started again. It is believed this can be arranged.

In accordance with the foregoing it is the recommendation of the Bureau of Reclamation that all after the enacting clause be stricken out and the bill be rewritten as follows:

"That for the protection of the agricultural communities in the Palo Verde Valley, State of California, against injury or destruction by reason of floods or changes in the channels of the Colorado River, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to rehabilitate and maintain, through such agency and in such manner as he may deem most appropriate, such river front protective works between said valley and said river as he may find best suited to serve that purpose: Provided, That the Secretary may, in his discretion, take over, operate, and maintain such existing works as he finds in place and adaptable to his plans and pay to the owners the reasonable value thereof as may be determined by him; and there is hereby authorized to be appropriated from moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated such amounts as the Secretary of the Interior may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of this act, not exceeding the sum of $1,000,000, at the rate of $200,000 annually for five years beginning with the fiscal year 1932, as reimbursement of past expenditures i.v the district for flood protection; and there is also authorized to be appropriated such additional sums as the Secretary of the Interior may from time to time find necessary for the future construction and maintenance of flood protection works: Provided further, That no part of said money shall be appropriated or expended until an agreement satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior shall have been entered into between the holders of at least 85 per centum of the outstanding bonded indebtedness of the Palo Verde irrigation district and the district, whereby said holders consent to the reduction of said indebtedness to a sum which the Secretary of the Interior finds is not in excess of the district's ability to pay: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior, as a condition precedent to the expenditures authorized herein to be made, shall require the said district to agree that whenever any lands in said district shall be sold for unpaid taxes and the title to such lands shall have been acquired by the said district the district shall cause said lands to be appraised at their fair value, not exceeding the sum for which they were sold, plus taxes which have accrued on the same since the date of said sale, and shall offer said lands for resale at said appraised price; and the last owner, or his heirs at law, executors, administrators, or assignees, shall be given preference as purchaser for a period of one year after the date of said tax sale to the district: Provided further, That none of the moneys herein authorized shall be expended or contracts for the expenditure thereof be made unless and until there shall have been executed by the Palo Verde irrigation district, authorized by the landowners thereof as may be rquired by the laws of the State of California, or in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, an instrument in writing whereby said district releases and quitclaims to the United States any and all claims and/or causes of action which the district and/or its land owners now have or may hereafter have against the United States or against any other party whatsoever on account of or arising out of the placing, heretofore or hereafter, by the United States, of under its authority, of any obstructions whatsoever in the Colorado River at any point not higher than 10 miles above the Laguna Dam as now located: Provided further, That in said instrument the district shall agree to hold the United States, its officers and agents, harmless against any and all claims and/or causes of action which have been or may be asserted by land owners of said district on account of said actions done or to be done by the United States or

under its authority: And provided further, That no liability of any kind shall attach to or rest upon the United States because of floods or flood waters of the Colorado River.

"SEC. 2. That the Secretary of the Interior, is hereby authorized to perform any and all acts and to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this act into full force and effect."

ELWOOD MEAD, Commissioner.

The present bill, H. R. 4715 of this Congress, carries out all the recommendations and suggestions of the Interior Department as set forth in its report on H. R. 13575.

The committee by the two amendments recommended adopts the further suggestions of the Interior Department set forth in its present report on the pending bill.

The report of the Interior Department on H. R. 4715 is as follows: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, February 19, 1932.

Hon. ROBERT S. HALL,

Chairman Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have your request for my report on H. R. 4715, a bill for the protection of the Palo Verde Valley of California against injury or destruction by reason of Colorado River floods.

This bill has two objectives. One is the immediate assumption of flood protection of the Palo Verde Valley against the Colorado River. This problem will become urgent with the summer floods of this year. The second purpose of the bill is the authorization of a Federal expenditure of $1,000,000, spread over five years. The theory of this second disbursement is compensation to the Palo Verde Valley for the cost of flood protection which that area has borne unaided during the past. Certain conditions are attached to the latter expenditure, including reduction by holders of the outstanding bonded indebtedness of the Palo Verde irrigation district to a sum which the Secretary of the Interior finds is not in excess of the district's ability to pay.

I am advised that accomplishment of the first and emergency purpose of this bill would require an expenditure this year of about $70,000 for levee maintenance and improvements and of probably a lesser sum annually thereafter. As showing the character of the emergency, I am attaching a copy of telegram which I have received from Governor Rolph, of California, together with my reply. My suggestion is that transfer of the sum of $70,000 to the reclamation fund under one of the flood control bills now pending before the House be authorized as an emergency measure. This would follow the procedure adopted for the Yuma area on the Colorado River, which is not far distant from Palo Verde. It is my understanding that it is proposed that the Mississippi Valley flood control bill, for instance, shall carry several million dollars this year and a transfer of $70,000 for this purpose should not encounter objection. The emergency is pressing. Reports of snow fall on the watershed indicate a large run-off this year. I am inclosing a suggested draft of bill, which is along the general lines of legislation enacted for benefit of the near-by Yuma project (43 Stat. 1198, 44 Stat. 1010, 1021). I am advised that this proposal would not be in conflict with the financial program of the President.

The second feature of H. R. 4715, requiring the advancement of $1,000,000 to recoup the District's past expenditures, is not required for physical preservation of the valley but for its economic rehabilitation and enactment at the present time of such a commitment, I am advised, would not be in accord with the financial program of the President. As to the policy involved in the proposal, I have no objection. A similar, but not identical, bill introduced at the last session, H. R. 13575, received a favorable report from this department at that time but failed of passage in Congress. The condition of the Treasury at the present time is such that I must recommend deferment of any such authorization until a later date. The bondholders are not apt to interfere, by foreclosure, with the Government's protection of their security.

The figure "22," relating to the limit height of Imperial Dam, in line 1, page 4, should in any event be changed to read "25." Possible slight modifications of plans for the proposed Imperial Dam or advisability of leaving some freeboard make this change desirable.

I am inclosing correspondence with the counsel for the Imperial irrigation district with regard to certain proposed amendments designed to remove ambiguity. I have no objection to the form of his suggestions.

Very truly yours,

RAY LYMAN WILBUR.

PROPOSED BILL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be expended out of moneys appropriated or to be appropriated for flood control in the Mississippi River Valley the sum of $70,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be transferred to the reclamation fund and to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior for the purpose of repairing and reconstructing the levee system of the Palo Verde Irrigation District, California, to be immediately available.

That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of moneys in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933, and annually thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of said levee system.

[Telegrams]

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Hon. RAY LYMAN WILBUR,

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., February 12, 1932.

Secretary of Interior, Washington, D. C.

By authorization of Boulder Canyon project Federal Government committed itself to policy of flood protection on lower Colorado. All other irrigation projects on lower Colorado River are Government projects or have received Government aid in controlling floods of river which threaten such projects. As from information presented to state engineer, extremely large floods on the river are expected this year. Situation as to Palo Verde is very critical. Last year I am informed you advocated an appropriation by Congress for flood relief. Regardless of Hoover Dam construction, levee repairs are needed to protect Palo Verde until completion of dam. Financial situation such that impossible for Palo Verde people to raise funds even for emergency protection this year. Your aid and assistance is sought in securing an appropriation as requested in bill by Congressman Swing, now before Appropriations Committee. Your best efforts for this and many other matters of interest to this State are greatly appreciated. JAMES ROLPH, Jr., Governor of California.

FEBRUARY 13, 1932.

Hon. JAMES ROLPH, Jr.,

Governor of California, Sacramento:

We are endeavoring to include necessary amount for flood protection Palo Verde district in appropriation for flood control now before House.

RAY LYMAN WILBUR.

The committee did not act on the suggestion of the Secretary of the Interior for a bill to transfer $70,000 from the Mississippi River flood control project fund to the reclamation fund for expenditure on this project on the Colorado River feeling it did not have jurisdiction over the subject under the rules of the House.

M

SALE OF THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON

FEBRUARY 20, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. GILBERT, from the Committee on the Library, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 1861]

The Committee on the Library having considered Senate bill 1861 respectfully reports that the said bill do pass.

This bill (S. 1861) is an amendment making workable the act of February 21, 1930, pertaining to the sale of the writings of George Washington by the George Washington Bicentennial Commission. This bill sets July 1, 1932, as the limit of time for libraries to buy a set of these writings at $50. This will be an inducement for all libraries to immediately subscribe, and in addition it will enable the commission to dispose of the books as they are printed, otherwise the commission would have to wait until all are printed which will not be prior to 1934 or 1935. This would mean that there would be 75,000 volumes in the Printing Office not to be sold until finished which would be after the interest and excitement in Washington had abated.

There is another small change permitting a set to go to each member of Congress when the bill is passed whether he is a Member of Congress when the edition is completed or not.

The Public Printer suggests that the time limit within which libraries could purchase the volumes at $50, is necessary so that after that date it could be known how many sets had been ordered and in that way determine what the balance would cost. It could then be announced to the public, the price of the remainder.

Section 1 of said original act is as follows:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States Commission for the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington established by the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution authorizing an appropriation for the participation of the United States in the preparation and completion of plans for the comprehensive observance of that greatest of all historic events, the bicentennial of the birthday of George Washington," approved December 2, 1924 (hereinafter referred to as the "commission"), is authorized and HR-72-1-VOL 166

directed to prepare, as a congressional memorial to George Washington, a definitive edition of all his essential writings, public and private (excluding the diaries), including personal letters from the original manuscripts or first prints, and the general orders, at a cost not to exceed $56,000 for preparation of the manuscript. Such definitive edition shall be printed and bound at the Government Printing Office and shall be in about the same form as the already published diaries of George Washington and shall consist of twenty-five volumes, more or less. There shall be three thousand sets of such edition, two thousand of which shall be sold by the Superintendent of Documents at a cost equal to the total cost under this section of preparing the manuscript and printing and binding the entire edition. The commission shall, upon issue of the final volume, distribute the remaining one thousand sets as follows: Two each to the President, the library of the Senate, and the library of the House of Representatives; twenty-five to the Library of Congress; one to each member of the Cabinet; one each to the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one to each Senator, Representatives in Congress, Delegate, and Resident Commissioner; one each to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and one to each member and officer of the commission. The remaining sets shall be distributed as the commission directs including such number of sets as may be necessary for foreig exchange. The "usual number" for congressional dis ri bution and for depository libraries shall not be printed. To carry out the purpose of this paragraph there is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $157,975, or so much thereof as may be necessary, ou of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

All of this section is stricken out except the last sentence, which reads as follows:

To carry out the purpose of this paragraph there is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $157,975, or so much thereof as may be necessary, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

At the end of this section, when amended, there will be this addition: The one thousand extra copies (heretofore privately printed) of the first volume of such writings shall be considered to have been authorized by the commission and the commission may accept a donation of such extra copies for distribution for reviews, advertising, and for such other promotional purposes as it may deem advisable. If the commission shall direct the Superintendent of Documents to sell any such extra copies of the first volume, he shall offer the same for sale at a cost per copy equal to the cost per copy of the first volume as computed under clause (2) of the third sentence of this section. Such extra copies shall be the only copies of any volume of the set distributed or sold separately.

If this bill shall pass, then the entire act as amended will read as follows:

That the United States Commission for the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington established by the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution authorizing an appropriation for the participation of the United States in the preparation and completion of plans for the comprehensive observance of that greatest of all historic events, the bicentennial of the birthday of George Washington," approved December 2, 1924 (hereinafter referred to as the commission), is authorized and directed to prepare, as a congressional memorial to George Washington, a definitive edition of all his essential writings, public and private (excluding the diaries), including personal letters from the original manuscripts or first prints, and the general orders, at a cost not to exceed $56,000 for preparation of the manuscript. Such definitive edition shall be printed and bound at the Government Printing Office and shall be in about the same form as the already published diaries of George Washington and shall consist of twentyfive volumes, more or less. There shall be three thousand sets of such edition, two thousand of which shall be sold by the Superintendent of Docoments (1) at a cost of $50 per set for sets sold to such public libraries, and institutions and societies of learning, as shall order the same not later than July 1, 1932, and (2) the remainder of the two thousand sets, at a cost equal (together with the receipts from the sets sold to such libraries, institutions, and societies) to the total cost under this section of preparing the manuscript and printing and binding

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