The morning call., 1890-07-19
CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE.
Reagan Defends Major Pcwell-A Tilt With
Stewart.

heagen OelenoS hsJor flWelL-A 1ut WIN
Stewart.
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-1his morning
after some unimportant business the con-
sideration of the SundIy Civil Appropria-
tion Bill was resumed, the pending ques-
tion being on the amendment repeating the
irrigation provision III like bill of October,
1885, excepting that the reservoir and canal
sites heretofore located or selected shall
remain segregated and reserved from entry
or settlement.
Reagan continued his argument which he
began yesterday against the amendment
and in favor OF the irrigation scheme in
itiated by the act of 1883. He warmly de-
Tended Major Powell, who, he said, could
not be used by speculators in public lands,
and that war had been made upon him.
Stewart-Does the Senator from Texas
attribute that motive to me?
Reagan-l have not said a word about the
Senator from Nevada, nor have had him
on my mind. l was referring to the general
subject and to the fact that during the
early part of this Congress representatives
of syndicates and corporations were here
urging the repeal of this law aud threaten
ing TO bring their power to bear on the
members of Congress.
Stewart-Will the Senator name some
agent of some syndicate?
heaGdu-l nave no uOuDL tHe senator
from Nevada knows as many Of them as |
do ! have no disposition to engage in per-
sonaities, either with agents, or claimants,
or Senators.
Stewart-No representative of any syndi-
cate or of any person interested in land has
mentioned the subject to me this session.
The only thing that has influenced me has
been my own observations and the protests
that have come from the people against
having public lands withdrawn from the
market.
Reagan-These land sharks may have
thought me weaker, less pure, less devoted
to public interests than the Senator from
Nevada, and may therefore have approached
me when they did not dare TO approach him.
When we talk of public sentiment we ought
to have the sentiment OF the cultivatoTS of
the soil and not land-speculators who COM
bine their influence, activity and wealth to
make the members of Congress believe
their own interests and their own feelings
are those of the people.
Allen said that within the country desig-
mated as the arid region there was popu-
lation of between two and three millions
Great communities had guarantees of la nds
which had existed up to this time, but sud-
denly, without note of warning, two
fifths of the area OF the United States had
beed reserved from settlement In order to
consummate their policy,.Stat and Terrific
rial lines would have to be obliterated and
fCotCu AiO cam
estly protested against such legislation.
Allison said he desired to put himself on
toward against any appropriation made
against continuing the irrigation survey.
He was firmly convinced that an immediate
stop should be put to that survey. The re-
suit of its continuance would be to involve
the Government in enormous expenditures
and ENHANCEMENT.
After further discussion by Plumb, Cock
rell, Teller and Stewart, the amendment
was agreed to.
The items of $4,000 for irrigation sur
veys, $4,000 for engraving maps, and $500
for office rent in Washington were stricken
notice that he would ask the Senate to re-
main in session tomorrow until it was coui-
pleted.
A conference was ordered on the Lands
Forfeiture Bill, after which the Senate ad-
iourle1,