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Show 233 tains elaborate provisions dealing with excess lands and anti- speculation.480 When this latter legislation was proposed, the then Commissioner of Reclamation gave the following sum- mary of the principal reasons for a complete substitution for the 1937 Act:481 The principal reasons for suggesting a complete sub- stitution were these: (1) The existing provisions of law dealing with the land-speculation problems are not re- garded as fully effective; (2) the burden of penalties for sales in excess of the appraised value under the existing law would have fallen, in the first instance, almost wholly on the purchaser, and as often as not he would have been without further practical remedy against his vendor, with the result that he whom the law was designed to protect would have to bear the burden of the penalty; (3) the provisions of the exist- ing law on the size of land holdings are regarded as too inflexible and not in keeping with what have since, as the result of a series of studies on the project, been concluded to be the desirable maximum size of unit for the support of a family at a suitable level of living. These provisions are the heart of the present law. Since drastic changes in each seems desirable and since addi- tional important provisions in aid of development and settlement of the project are considered desirable also, it was concluded best to recommend a complete restate- ment of all of the present statute. The 1943 Act contains provisions of especial significance here. For example, the Secretary may establish "farm units of sufficient acreage for the support of an average-sized family at a suitable living level, having in mind the character of the soil, topography, location with respect to the irrigation sys- tem," and other relevant factors.482 With specified exceptions, 480 Act of May 27, 1937, 50 Stat. 208; Act of March 10, 1943, 57 Stat. 14, 16 XL S. O. 835 et seq. 481 Hearings before the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation on H. R. 6522, 77th Cong., 2d sess., p. 41 (1942). 482 Act of March 10,1943, § 2(b) (i), 57 Stat. 14,15,16 U. S. 0. 835a(b) (i). |