Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-23
DISCUSSION OF ARID LANDS.
Delegates to the Trans-Mississlppi Con-
gross Air Their Views.
FINE HAND OF THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY.
IL is Shown in the Defeat of ResoIw
tions Favoring the Legaiizing OF
the Business In Any
State.

| DENVER, Colo. May 22.-In the trans
Mississippi congress this morning tho fine
hand of the Louisiana lottery combination
was manifested III the defeat of resolutions
calling for n constitutional amendment by
| which lotteries could be logalizcd In any state.
| The vote stood 95 to 8.
| The remainder OF the day was spent In tho
consideration of resolutions. All were passed
rs reported by tho committee, but warm
debate was provoked by the question of the
| government ceiing arid lands to the states
and territories.
A conclusion was reached Just before ad-
| journmcnt so that the convention will take
| up silver this evening.
Texas offered resolutions endorsing tho
| Columbian exposition in Chicago and extend
| ing congratulations to the managers FOR work
| thus far done.
| Mckesson of Nebraska-To petition con-
gress to favor ship railways between the At.
iantic coast ana interior ports.
The regular order of business was taken up
with resolution deploring the enacting of q
| law by the Forty-ninth congress prohibiting
| foreign capital from investing in real estate
| and mines. Adopted.
1t was agreed that the basis of representa-
| ton to all future congresses shall DO rs fol-
| lows: Each state and territory, delegates
| nt-large, for every 900 and major fraction
| thereof; for each board of trade in cities OF
| 5000 population; for every water line OPP
| Grating on and west of tho Mlississippi river;
| for each agricultural society; ! for each
county agricultural association; that two
| conventions year, in spring and fall, 90
| held and TINT the next convention after the
| session in Omaha be held in New Orleans.
Tho majority aud minority reports on arid
| lands were read. The latter urged the ces-
| sion OF arid lands TO the states in which they
were situated and limiting individual pur-
| chases to 32O acres at not less than 81 - per
! acre and only citizens of the United States
| be eligible as purchasers, the funds derived
| from sales to be applied 10 the development
| of irrigation and the reclamation of arid
| lands.
The majority report was devoted to
strong argument for system of government
irrigation that would bring these lands under
cultivation.
Colorado offered a substitute asking for the
ceding of arid non-minerdl lands to the re.
spcctive states and territories.
Texas offered an amendment favoring the
ceding OF arid lands to states and terrific ries,
providing that such lands be held for the
purpose of constituting and maintain ing
permanent fund to be used for the purpose
of free public education.
Gum of Idaho was allowed twenty min.
utcs to speak upon the substitute He said
every important city from Denver to San
Francisco was settled by the hardy miner.
Salt Lake was the solitary exception. He
did not think there was any prospect of the
government doing anything for the ameliora-
ton OF the situation. Idaho alone had 49,
oOO,OOO acres OF arabic land. or this 10000
900 acre, We're susceptible of irrigation Re-
duce that amount to 100000 and estimate it
at s. per acre and there would be fund of
S33,0OO,OOO which could be spent on improve
ments.
Hatlcy Is. Morse of Colorado supported tho
minority report He opened with review OF
land Legislation In congress. Public lands
were being gobled by railroads, which in their
rapacity were also selling mineral lands.
The proposition to cede arid lands to the state
originated with Denver real estate men, He
wanted the general government to control
and irrigatc these lands which were menaced
by land spectators.
Hardy of Utah spoke in favor of ceding the
lands.
Judge Belford Of Colorado arose to speak
on the question. He urged the utilization OF
western waters by storing the moisture in
stead of allowing it to flow idly By and
Jeopardize lives and property on its way to-
the sea. Colorado real estate men wanted
tho government to give 12,0Gl,0OO acres to
the state. Half of this would be given to
corporation for the purpose of making i'm
provements. Fifty million dollars in bonds
would be issued and a monopoly established
to control domain greater than half of the
New England states.
Senator Warren of Wyoming said there
could be no injustice to the middle or eastern
states in asking for the ceding of arid lands.
These lands were worthless but susceptible
to cultivation. The question was whether
state or government should do the work of
reclamation. In the majority report it was
expressly stipulated that corporations be ex-
cluded from all benefits of the proposed leg
isation. Congress could be trusted with the
interests OF its constituents An appropri-
alton of Sf0,0000OO would be required to
reclaim these arid lands and they never could
hope for such an appropriation from the
national government.
The debate close and a vote was taken on
the amendment offered bv Texas. Tho
amendment was withdrawn and the subst-
tute for the minority report was lost. The
question recurred on the minority report,
which was defeated ny vast majority.
Recess