WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION
The CuairMaN. How many are Mexicans?
Mr. Simms. Of the 400,000 people, there are approximately 175,000
native-born citizens of the United States of Mexican or Spanish
ancestry. I happen to have resided in the Republic of Mexico for
some eight or nine years, during the end of the Diaz régime and the
beginning of the succeeding régime, and I have a sympathetic view
of the Mexican ambitions.
The CrairMaN. That is the feeling of this committee. We are
not antagonistic to any race of people. Do vou use two languages in
your courts?
Mr. Simms. In all except the Federal courts. I judge 25 years
from now that that necessity will no longer exist.
The CrairmaN. Especially if we can hold down the immigration
from Mexico.
Mr. Simms. And especially as we are able, through our ability to
finance them, to give more and better schools. Our school term is
about eight and a half to nine months.
The CHAIRMAN. You have present no witness from New Mexico?
Mr, Simms. Mr. B. P. Fleming is from the town of Las Cruces.
Mr. Fleming is an engineer and I commend him to the committee.
He will be able to answer precisely vour questions

£3

STATEMENT OF B. P. FLEMING, MANAGER, ELEPHANT-BUTTE
IRRIGATION DISTRICT

The CrarrMaN. Please give your name and business?
Mr. FremiNg., My name is Burton P. Fleming. My address is
Las Cruces, N. Mex.
The Cuarrman. Civil engineer?
Mr. Freming. By profession, Mr. Chairman.
The CrairmaN. Have you lived in New Mexico a long time?
Mr. FLeming. I have been in New Mexico at my present engagement,
 approximately a year. However, I lived in New Mexico a
period of 3 years some 20 years ago, and I think IT am fairly familiar
with the issues there.
Line CrarrMaN. You have an office of your own or work on something?

Mr. Freming. I am the manager of the Elephant-Butte irrigation
district of New Mexico.
The CrarrMAN. Just what Is that, briefly?
Mr. Freming. The Elephant-Butte irrigation district, Mr. Chairman,
 is a quasi-public corporation organized under the laws of New
Mexico for the purpose of cooperating with the Federal Government
in connection with the annual repayments of construction charges
and the operation and maintenance charges appropriated by the
Federal Government.
The CuatrMaN. Is it a Jeelmmation, project or irrigation project
or is it a combined project?
Mz. FLeming. The district, sir, is an organization of farmers,
organized for the purpose of collecting, through taxes, the repayment
~harges of the project constructed by the Federal Government.
Mr. Simms. Known -as the Elephant-Butte irrigation project.
The Cuairman. Is it a Federal reclamation project?
Mr. Frneming. Known as the Rio Grande reclamation project.