Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-03-21
Our Regular Correspondent Sends Us
an Interesting Letter From
the National Capital.
The Dolph Investigating Committee
Has Made No Progress Examin-
ing Newspaper Men.
Major POwell's Plan for Preliminary
Surveys for Irrigation in
the DakOtas.
Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 9.-[Spe-
been popular in the minds of the people,
who regard them as a transgression upon
their constitutional sovereignty. They de-
mand a knowledge Of the senate's proceed
ings, and applaud the enterprise of the
press in obtaining it for them. The meth
DDS of purveyance they care not for. Pub
lie sentiment is unquestionably with the
reporters in the senate indictment against
them, anent the publication of executive
secrets.
Senator Dolph's committee to investigat to
the leakage has not been conspicuous for
its success. Not Il reporter could be
found who would violate a confidence, and
for this commendable and rare quality the
committee advised punishment of the con-
tumacious scribes for contempt.
The committee erred in trying to stop
the flow of a great stream at the wrong
extremity. 1t would have been better had
they sought to dam it at the source. If
they cannot do the latter land in the light
of experience it is evident they %cannot),
then their proposed accommodation of
the press is mere brutatm fulmen. Failing
to elicit any information of value from the
scribes, the committees transferred its at
tention to the senators, and was engaged
Friday in making them swear that they
never gave anything away.
Senator Pierce promptly and emphat-
ically declined to anSw any questions
concerning the investigating committee or
to express an opinion on the secret ses-
sions. remarking that the question was not
up for consideration. He said, however,
that he is in favor Of having the official re-
porter Of the senate give to the associated
press correspondent the vote on every con-
in order that the constituents of each SEN
ator may be informed of his attitude.
IRRIGATION FOR THE DAKoTAs.
Major Powell is recognized as the high
est authority on the subject of irrigation.
which so deeply interests our people, and.
at the request Of Senator Pierce, has pre-
pared estimates which, if approved by
congress, will enable the work to be COM
menced in the Dakotas as soon as an ap-
preparation shall be available.
The plan is to secure a preliminary ap-
preparation of Sill, 900 for a photographic
survey to locate at once the places where
arteSian wells can be sunk with success
SO that when the appropriation for boring
shall be made, no delay will ensue and the
wells can be sunk this spring.
Carrying out the idea of the chief of the
geological survey, Senators Pierce an6
PettigreW went to the secretary of the in.
terror and induced him to submit the esti-
mate to the chairman of the committee on
appropriations, requesting that $1,000 for
the purpose be placed on the urgency de-
fciency bill. Senator Pierce also intro
duced an amendment to the bill which
covers the item.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Wingate, of Mandan, was appoint
ed Friday to a clerkship in the censu:
Office.
Representative Hansbrough reports tina
he has received a second visitation of la
grippe.
Gen. Nat Harris, a distinguished confed
crate officer and formerly of Mississippi
but now of Dakota. is a guest at the Ran
dali.
Mrs. Senator Pierce and daughter viii
leave Washington early in April. The,
will stop for about two weeks in Indiana
visiting Mrs. Pierce's mother, and will ar
rive IN Bismarck about the first of May
Mr.. Paul Pierce, now practicing law il
Minneapolis, will make an extensive tou
through the east and south, reachin,
Washington in time to accompany th'
ladies hOmeward.
MI. G. L. Gurley has adopted a regimen
for the purpose Of reducing his Falstatfia1
physique.
Mr.. Aaron Bell, a former weather OBJ
server at Fort Yates, is now connected
with the Indian bureau. Just now he i
rejoicing in the distinction of paternity
which he has announced to his friends b,
a card bearing the following inscriptions:
My name is
Arthur lngraham Bell,
Papa and mama doing well.
Nal-..~x. neAL 1onn