Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1892-01-07
.-..t', Views on Irrigation.

Hon. Willis sweet i.""o ne'noer
=. national house Representatives
'D.a IN the city Sunday. He Is pres
'. n the board of regents of the state
,,.rxlty, and took advantage of the
.....ional recess to come on and
"a . meeting of the board, as well
- attend to private business matters.
n..l,,iny that Washington news
!. The lips of one fresh from partici-
~. IN congressional affairs would
= interest to the readers of the
..su,an, a reporter sought an inter-
I. with Mr.. Sweet and was favored
- much interesting information re-
fling some matters of Importance to
.ho The congressman was asked
ant the status of the arid land ques-
! IN congress and replied substan-
IlIy as follows:
.There will be flood Of bills, but it
mid be difficult to predict just what
M the agitation will take, Senator
,uh has already introduced bill,
tit is IN impracticable measure. That
N movides for the advancing Of money
the national government, and that
.omething that cannot be secured.
: are hedged about by certain abso-
~ conditions and have to conform
r.elyes to them. One of these is that
= government will not appropriate
~ money for the reclamation Of the
Al lands. Another is that congress
All not part with the lands except un-
certain restrictions. One condition
A. will be exacted IL that the gov.
nment must know that the lands 70
actual settlers; another that the
mount to each settler shall be SO linn
ed that corporations and land grab
NJ cannot secure control of large
nets, and that speculative schemes
ball be rendered impossible; and an
Iher that actual settlers shall get the
ster rights to which they may be EN-
tied. Congress entertains fixed de-
Elimination to protect those who want
make homes OH the land, and it
I'LL not entrust their rights to the
bates. Any scheme that may be
rought forward to make an absolute
.ssion will meet with overwhelming
pposition from the fear that a big job
bay be hidden under it at some point.
In my opinion the only relation that
IN be established in this matter is that
trustee or trnster; and I have made
draft of bill based upon that idea.
bther representatives are preparing
)ills, among them Senator Dubois.
penator Warren has bill; Mr.. Clarke
Wyoming is drawing one; Senator
tewart has announced his intention of
Introducing one, Mr.. Caine of Utah,
rill probably have one, and Mr.. Bar
ine Of Nevada, may have another. 1t
possible that some OF these bills will
atisfactorily cover the ground, though
u ID not yet known whether all will
be able to agree. In Idaho we know
tlat we have an abundance of water,
while sore of the other states and ter
litories may not he 80 fortunate. Thus
bill that would suit one may not suit
The others.
realize that the man who would ac-
complish anything in the house must
be In 1t at the start, and l propose to
have my bill ready 50 that 1t can Ike in
troduced at the first opportunity, in
case no other bill shall cover the SUBJ
|ect, of which am member, and we
will endeavor to secure favorable action.
Mr.. Sweet has the draft of his bill
With him. 1t deals only with the arid
lands In this state and, in brief, is as
follows: The arid lands in Idaho are
made over tn the state in trust, SO that
lie same may be bonded for the pur-
pose Of missing money for their reclama-
t'on, but the fee simple title remains in
the government until such time as the
land may be sold to settlers. A COM
mission of five citizens of Idaho is pro-
vlded for, to be appointed by the presi-
tent. This commission shall establish
~ office in Boise City and shall pro-
ICED to classify the arid lands of the
nate. 1t shall be the duty of the COM
mission to determine the amount of ir-
figable arid land in each county, and
oy what means Its reclamation can be
brought about, whether by canals or
together with the cost of the
works that will be needed for that pur-
pose Three maps shall be prepared,
the lands that are to be re-
claimed. One of these maps shall he
furnished to the general land office, so
mat the title may be established; one
snail he filed with the secretary Ofstate
Ior Idaho, for the use of the legislature
10 dealing with the question, and the
'ther shall be kept in the office OF the
secretary of the commission, where 1t
IAN be examined at will by the public.
a provision Is made for appeal from de-