The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-29
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
MAJOR POHELL'S FISHT AGAINST TEE
LAND SPECULATE

the Lands It lie Proposed TO IrriEate-
Congressman Enux sworn In-The Gro
shop In tie House Closed by Mr.. Reed
WASHINGTON. May 2S-The two reports mad
by the majority and minority OF the senat
Irrigation Committee has produced an actiy
controversy Tho resolution Of Senate
Stewart calling Tor information from the In
terror Department and intima'ing that none!
50, aside for tho purposes OF irrigation hat
bsrn used for tOpogf aphic surveys. has stirred
TN, MAJOR Powell, the director OF the Geologi
cnl Survey. who has teen for several months
target for all sorts OF opposition. lie thinks
that silence IS no longer golden. and therefore
| has something TO say on the subject hlm'
self lie charges. in the first place tha'
the struggle with which lie is engaged in re-
rnrl TO irrigation is fight pure and simple
against the spectators. lie ia doing what he
can. he says. to prevent money sharks from
grabbing no the irrigabe lands OF tho great
arid belt together with the waters upon which
/ they will depend for fruitfulness, and so estab-
! fishing sort OF hydraulic feudal system. TO
| which the American farmers would be help
lessly subject. In support of his charge Major
! Powell goes on to say:
The last Congress passed bill appropri-
! ating money for the location 10y survey Of ir-
rigahe tracts OF suitable sites Tor reservoirs
Wherein to store water In the wet season for
| use during the dry season, in various parts OF
This enormous territory Of drouRht. It was pro,
vided by this same law that the lands marked
ont az irrignble by the proposed works should
be Withdrawn from the operation Of the Desert
Land. timber Culture. and Presumption acts IN
vduals should not be able to absorb under
those acts the tracs and ttes selected az isS
HHonU,I How wise. this provision
was is even now being shown by by
with $500. 100000 to back them. are making to
secure the. repeal OF The law by Congress IN
areas and supply waters. which the Geological
Survey has recently declared TO be so valuable.
N when is sSen 10
fact that the proposed irrigation OF the lands
selected by the survey. will make lOO,0O9OOO
d opportunity that the speeuIIators look
sion slo Of '" tho iands@more particularly OF
the water rights upon which the value OF these
lands aItoRether depond,utney can r; sen on 0f
turn tho water on or off rs they please, 20 That
tho miserable agricutnrists will be title less
great step taken toward what, now appears to
ritorv namely 10 be absorbed ana held by q
few enormous syndicateS IL Is this PROJECT OF
tho th9t FynS my os snd 70 b 1
have misiod certain honestly disposed mem
bers of Congress into taking thni view OF the
favor OF repeating the law aud letting tho 81 &C.
ulators have their way"
An error in the Customs Administrative bill
will necesstate tho passage vi "a Joint resolu-
tion to cover q very setious defect. By the
terms OF the bin 1t is to 60 tito effect Aug ]. 1t
is also provided that anN orences committed
Cured prior to the passage OF this act under
any statute. embraced in or changed modified
or rerea cd hy this act, may be prosecuted and
punished IN the same manner and with the
same effect rs ii tn is act had not been passed.,
BY The use OF the phrase Passage oil this act"
will be. under tho law. no right of prosecution
&c. between the time Of the passage OF the
act anu the date at which il sha! go into effect
made to the House by MIR. Mckinley in pre-
sentlng hc report of the Conference Committee
sent that the bill might be so amended to cover
the hiatus. There was objection by the Demo-
crat1 on the "u9d that ihey ala not want IN
remove tra question that was made upon the
passage of the bill, to wit that 1t was passed
without Il constitutional quorum. Hence the
necessity Tor II resolution OF correction.
The order issued by Superintendent OF tho
Census Porter to enumerators telling them
that they have no power to compel citizens to
answer questions put to them. is regarded by
congressman generally as meaning that the
department has backed down In the Contro-
ton II to be inken by Congress to Instruct the
enumerat0rs rs to their duty and privileges.
All efforts Therefore. to secure the passage OF
. RESTRICTING resolution in Congress have |
been abandoned. Superintendent Porter |
is out in long interview TODAY, IN
OF the universal protest, that ID going up
from all parts OF The United States. He makes |
no Now point simply ;oyIEg that GSonGress
have been asked by enumerators in previous |
rensusos. that they are part of the inquiry |
ties are OF vital importance tho medical pro-
ession. Not ccutent, however with point |
10 collect these statistics Mr. Porter dolenls |
the obnoxious quest ons rs being en!incntly |
necessary and proper. Rerro-cItatye Me- |
A loo, who has been the cha pion OF TIE oppo- /
siton in Congress. says that he is inclined 10 |
ct the whole matter drop now. Il. Mr.. porters |
supplemental instructions is und yesterday
renders any further action unnecessary.
The swearing in OF tho picturesque Richard |
NauX to-day as a member Of the House Of Rep
gave a bit Of interest to tho other
wise dul proceedings of that BODY. The friends
}; the, old campaigner were alert and had GOV:
cred the desk set aside for him in q corner OF
he Democratic row with beautiful floral offer
ngs. Tho finest piece was In the shape OF q
lugo keystone Of massed flowers. surmounted
ny shield. scroll. and horn OF plenty.
A hove all tangled the scales OF Justice. The
;eystone in letters OF blue were the words.
j., Let hrotherly love remain This Offering
who have been colleagues Of Mr..
aux for more than half q century. Little
Marcy " Nolll. now tl0 lulHor Oh lue house.
escorted the shaggy haired old man about
Among tho mem hers and he became acIuaint-
~ with hall of them In small space OF time.
Il IL iine address and agreeable manners aided
him TO easy make friends with all whom
NJ met. Mr.. Vaux will undoubtedly be an in
'efdstlng figure In Congress.
c7l. Thos. P. Ochiltree to-day presented to
Dol. Jno s. Clarkson milestone for his
official axe. The Gift is token OF the Colonels
appreciation OF practical civil service reform
ts eXempled by the First ASS stRnt Post mas
or General; The stone II enclosed In q fanci-
ully wrought box. and bears on tho I'D this
luothtion from Col Clarksons recent Boston
speech
icnl kind J. T. CLARKSoN
:, leneath this ia the inscription. 81. s. c. from
]. L.. %. o Texas" Col. ClarkSon Is more
'roud OF this delicate recognition Of the fidelity
WITH which 10 has discharged tho duties Of his
llgh olce than OF any OF the many evidences
u APPRECIATE II and good will that no has re-
~ eu since his determination to leave Official
lie has become known.
certain newspapers having called attention
o the Tact that intoxicating liquors have been
old in tho House restaurant. Speaker Reed to-
lay issued an order that the practice should