Page images
PDF
EPUB

Mr. DRIVER. No, sir; not at all, because the law provides that in all forfeited cases the owner shall have two years in which to redeem his land.

That is, by the payment of a penalty of 20 per cent of the amount of delinquent taxes, he can redeem in two years, but that does not apply to sales under order of court at the instance of the bondhold

The only right they have in that case is for the court to exercise its inherent power to afford to those people the opportunity of paying the entire judgment before the sale of the property is confirmed, and that usually runs from three months to six months, only between the terms of court. Therefore, when the sale is made, after a foreclosure proceeding, at the instance of the bondholder all the rights that the owner has are gone; the owner himself has gone and has taken his stand at the door where they are dispensing charity, which is no place for a red-blooded American citizen. If this condition continues much longer, Ham Fish will not have to use a telescope to find the reds, because of the desperate situation these people are going to be in.

Now, this is an intolerable situation, where American citizens are willing to provide their own daily bread, where they can take care of themselves; they are not asking a soul on earth for a single dollar of charity. All they are asking is the right to hold on to their own homesteads down there on these lands.

I want to ask you gentlemen, if this is the condition that does not apply generally to the farm lands of our Nation. They are in a peculiar situation, with only a limited amount of capital.

Mr. MICHENER. Then, in order to take advantage of this legislation, first, they must be in default; second, the bonds must be at less than par; in other words, if a bond is worth 100 cents on the dollar, then the Federal Government would not go in and relieve them?

Mr. DRIVER. That is our purpose and our theory of the aid that will be afforded under the provisions of this bill.

Mr. MICHENER. Then if the district does default, but if there is a higher power, which is the county, also responsible, or secondarily responsible, then the bondholders would not take less than 100 cents on the dollar. Is that correct?

Mr. DRIVER. That is correct. That is my view of it.

Mr. GREENWOOD. All of these projects are formulated under the State law?

Mr. DRIVER. Yes, sir.

Mr. GREENWOOD. Therefore, you would have as many different kinds of laws in regard to foreclosure and redemption as there are States which have projects of this kind.

Mr. DRIVER. The only difference is in the equity of redemption allowed under the statute. Of course, they all allow some period of redemption.

Now, some gentleman suggested that possibly the States should appear in this matter. If this is a condition in which these people must hope for their salvation in an appeal to the States, let me tell you this:

Gentlemen, the State of Arkansas to-day can not find a market for bonds for road purposes under Federal-aid projects. We can not sell a single dollar's worth of bonds; we can not borrow $1 for

that purpose.

We used the road funds to relieve the people down in my State, and it was a very valuable use to put those funds to, and they are gone now.

Now, when we first came here we were met with the proposition, in one-half of all the hearings that were held, that the bondholders were interested in this bill. To-day the bondholders are cared for. The man who remains back on the projects is still carrying his burden, and he has no resource whatever on the face of the earth to which he can turn. turn. That argument about the bondholders has already been exploded.

There was a further question raised as to the legal right to appropriate money for purposes of this kind. We were met with that argument at one time, and the whole matter was delayed for months at a time, in order to permit us to prepare briefs on the legal questions involved.

Mr. O'Connor will recall that when we presented the matter to you at the time, he remembered the authorities on which this legislation could be based, and he afforded us an opportunity to have access to those authorities.

So here we are, after four years, and it looks like we are herded into the fence again. I had just feared that when this reconstruction corporation was created, right down would go their foot on our plea, notwithstanding our continued and repeated appeals, and a fair disclosure of the actual conditions, which make it imperative that these people should have some aid, some form of credit from the Federal Government.

Now, it looks like we are in for it. We have a bipartisan letter addressed to the committees of Congress, in behalf of economy.

Now, let me tell you. I have voted for economy, and I am just as much in favor of it as anybody, but there are two kinds of economy, two different brands of economy, and one of them we are about to have applied to us to-day, and that is the destructive brand. Let me tell you further that these people who are in difficulties are not looking for economy, they want credit; they do not want to be given a dollar for charity, because they are red-blooded American citizens who want to pay their obligations. They are here asking you to open up the avenue which will enable them to pay their obligations, and give them an opportunity to demonstrate their courage, to enable them to retain the possession of their properties to which they have devoted years of energy in establishing their homes.

Mr. LOZIER. Mr. Chairman, I have some resolutions passed by the State legislature of Missouri, in support of this proposition, which I would like to have included in the record.

The CHAIRMAN. The reporter will incorporate them in the hearings.

(The resolutions referred to are as follows:)

STATE OF MISSOURI,

Department of State.

To all to whom these presents shall come:

I, Charles U. Becker, secretary of state of the State of Missouri and keeper of the great seal thereof, hereby certify that the following is a full, true, and complete copy of excerpts from the Senate and House Journals of the Fifty

sixth General Assembly of Missouri, relating to the introduction and adoption of a concurrent resolution memorializing Congress to pass the Glenn-Smith act, as the same appears on file and of record in this office.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the great seal of the State of Missouri. Done at the city of Jefferson, this 19th day of January, 1932.

[SEAL]

CHARLES U. BECKER,

Secretary of State.

SENATE JOURNAL, TWELFTH DAY

JANUARY 22, 1931.

Senator Wammack offered the following concurrent resolution which was read and adopted.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas there are many drainage and levee districts in this State that are in distress because of the recent floods and drought, and are now unable to bear the burden of the high taxation incident to the cost of drainage and levee improvements; and

Whereas the homesteads of thousands of farmers in special improvement districts are being sold at the courthouse door; and

Whereas the Government permits the farmers on Federal irrigation projects to pay their assessment costs on the basis of 40 years without interest; and Whereas there is now pending in the House of Representatives at Washington, D. C., what is known as the Glenn-Smith bill, the purpose of which is to place drainage, levee, and private irrigation districts on the same basis as the Federal-aid projects; and

Whereas this bill passed the Senate unanimously and has been reported out of the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation with unanimous vote: and

Whereas this is one of the most and practical and beneficial relief that can be granted to 5,000,000 American citizens on land in these special improvement districts in this and other States; and

Whereas it is economically sound, and can be put into operation at once: Therefore be it

Resolved by the State Senate of Missouri (the house of representatives concurring therein), That the lower House of Congress of the United States be, and it is hereby, memorialized to immediately pass the Glenn-Smith Act, to the end that speedy relief may be brought to the farmers of these distressed drainage and levee districts, restoring the morale and the hope and the courage of the farmers residing therein, opening new reservoirs of credit that are now closed to them by reason of the high taxes, and preserve vast taxable lands to the State that are now threatened with return to swamps.

The following message from the senate was received through its secretary: Mr. Speaker, I am instructed by the senate to inform the house of representatives that there has been offered and adopted by the senate the following concurrent resolution:

[ocr errors]

'Whereas there are many drainage and levee districts in this State that are in distress because of recent floods and drought, and are now unable to bear the burden of the high taxation incident to the cost of drainage and levee improvements; and

"Whereas the homesteads of thousands of farmers in special improvement districts are being sold at the courthouse door; and

[ocr errors]

66

Whereas the Government permits the farmers on Federal irrigation projects to pay their assessment costs on the basis of 40 years without interest; and 'Whereas there is now pending in the House of Representatives at Washington, D. C., what is known as the Glenn-Smith bill, the purpose of which is to place drainage, levee, and private irrigation districts on the same basis as the Federal-aid projects; and

"Whereas this bill passed the Senate unanimously and has been, reported out of the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation with unanimous vote; and

"Whereas this is one of the most and practical and beneficial relief that can be granted to 5,000,000 American citizens on land in these special improvement districts in this and other States; and

"Whereas it is economically sound and can be put into operation at once: Therefore be it

"Resolved by the State Senate of Missouri (the house of representatives concurring therein), That the lower House of Congress of the United States be, and it is hereby, memorialized to immediately pass the Glenn-Smith Act, to the end that speedy relief may be brought to the farmers of these distressed drainage and levee districts, restoring the morale and the hope and the courage of the farmers residing therein, opening new reservoirs of credit that are now closed to them by reason of the high taxes, and preserve vast taxable lands to the State that are now threatened with return to swamps."

In which the concurrence of the house of representatives is respectfully requested.

On motion of Mr. Blair, the house concurred in the above concurrent resolution.

STATEMENT OF HON. WALL DOXEY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

Mr. DOXEY. Mr. Chairman, if I may be permitted to offer just a word before you adjourn, I would like to say that I am a member of the steering committee, and I appear here in the interest of the proposed legislation, to express my interest in it. Ever since the inception of legislation for the relief of farmers in the drainage districts, levee districts, drainage and irrigation districts, I have exerted my best efforts in its behalf.

I do not desire to take up the time of the committee, as I know you are about to adjourn, but I feel that, representing the people of my district, I must earnestly urged upon this committee the adoption of the rule introduced by Mr. Hall.

(Thereupon, at 11.55 o'clock a. m., the committee adjourned, to meet at the call of chairman.)

(The following papers were filed with the committee:)

TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Indiana delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

GLENN GRISWOLD.
JOHN W. BOEHNE, Jr.
W. H. LARRABEE.
EUGENE B. CROWE.

C. C. GILLEN.

LOUIS LUDLOW.
HARRY C. CANFIELD.

SAMUEL B. PETTENGILL.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned member of the Iowa delegation of the House of Representatives of the Seventy-second Congress hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

W. F. KOPP.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Illinois delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee

on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union
Calendar as No. 21.
James T. Igoe, Edward A. Kelly, L. W. Schuetz, Harry P. Beam,
William H. Dietrich, Fred A. Britten, Morton D. Hull, J. E.
Major, John C. Allen, Wm. P. Holaday, Wm. W. Arnold, Kent
E. Keller, C. V. Parsons, Charles Adkins, Wm. E. Hull, John
T. Buckbee, Oscar De Priest, Richard Yates, Homer W. Hall,
B. M. Chiperfield, Charles A. Karch, Frank R. Reid, W. R.
Johnson.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Wyoming delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

VINCENT CARTER.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Utah delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

FREDERICK C. LOOFBOUROW.
DON B. COLTON.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Montana delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

JOHN M. EVANS.
SCOTT LEAVITT.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Florida delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

HERBERT J. DRANE.
R. A. GREEN.

TOM YON.

RUTH BRYAN OWEN,

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Washington delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on January 11, 1932, and appearing on Union Calendar as No. 21.

SAM B. HILL.
ALBERT JOHNSON.
RALPH A. HORR.
JOHN W. SUMMERS.
LINDLEY H. HADLEY.

To the COMMITTEE ON RULES:

The undersigned members of the Idaho delegation of the House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, hereby petition for a special rule for the immediate consideration of H. R. 4650, reported unanimously by the Committee

« PreviousContinue »