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Show 228 As time passed, direct contractual relationships between the Government and individuals were replaced by contracts between the Government and water-users' organizations, as already noted.458 Significant in this respect was the 1922 Act authorizing the Secretary to enter into contracts with irriga- tion districts for repayment of construction charges.457 This eliminated the necessity for contracts with individual water users. Moreover, such districts usually possessed power to make assessments against lands, as we previously pointed out.458 The sponsor of the 1922 proposal stated, during debate on the floor of the House, that:459 The speculative feature is eliminated, land owners speculatively inclined being taxed for the cost and op- eration of the works, are unable profitably to "hold on." Permissible under the 1922 legislation, a repayment contract with an irrigation district organized under state law became mandatory in 1926.460 With the disappearance of direct con- tractual relationships between the United States and land- owners under these shifts in financing procedure, primary responsibility for determination of the eligibility of landowners under Reclamation Law was transferred to the irrigation dis- trict. Correspondingly, certain provisions were made for as- suring fulfillment of that responsibility by legislative and contractual standards. Thus, Section 46 of the 1926 Act, which is the latest excess-land and antispeculation legislation of general applicability, provides that: *"¦ No water shall be delivered upon the completion of any new project or new division of a project until a contract or contracts in form approved by the Secre- tary of the Interior shall have been made with an irri- gation district or irrigation districts organized under State law * * *. Such contract jor contracts * * * 486 See supra, pp. 206-207. m Act of May 15,1922, § 1, 42 Stat. 541, 43 U. S. 0. 511. 458 See supra, pp. 171-174. 489 62 Cong. Reo. 3588 (1922). 460 Act of May 25,1926, § 46, 44 Stat. 636, 649, 43 U. S. 0. 423e. m id. |