The morning call., 1893-10-13
SPEECHES AND DEBATES
Against Ceding Soil and Water
to the States.
CONGRESS AND ARID LANDS.
Reasons why Control of Streams
Should Be Held by the Fed
eral Government.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. -IA-Ine significant
| things of the third days session of the In.
ternational Irrigation Congress were the
! speeches of Colonel Richard j. Hinton and
c. G. Wright. the debates they evoked and
the appointing of subcommittee
of the committee On resolutions. The
latter is composed of Ex-Governor
Lionel Sheldon, r. M. Holt, S. n.
Green, w. E. Smythe. j. L Rocbo
| and Colonel r. j. Hinton. 1t will be their
duty to prepare an address on the two
great questions that confront this con-
gress-that of ceding the arid lands to the
| individual States and that involving tho
district irrigation law. This address will
be reported to tho congress tomorrow
morning, and then the work of the as
semblage will begin in good earnest.
Regarding this vexed question of the
arid lands Abbot Kinney of Santa Monica
presented resolution that when read
elicited sufficient applause to show that it
expresses the sentiments of no small por-
ton of the delegates. It was. of course,
| referred to the proper committee, but will
doubtless be heard from later oD, 1t reads
as follows:
| Resolced, That we are opposed to the
| cesSiOn of the arid lands and water con-
troll to the States and Territories, for the
following reasons:
| First-Because no important watershed
and stream lies entirely in one political
division. Most Of the larger rivers
traverse or border numerous States and
Territories. Consequently that conform
ity of plan and comprehensive scope Of
distribution necessary to the fullest use OF
these Interstate waters cannot be had by
local regulation or lack of regulation.
Second - Because two of these large
Western rivers. the Rio Grande and the
| Colorado. border on or pass through
Mexican territory, and are likely to raise
International questions in their manage
ment. These questions are not within the
powers of the States or Territories to deal
i with separately.
Third-Because the common form of
our State government lacks the executive
strength to properly handle the vast in
terests involved in the irrigation and set
| Element Of our arid lands. Much as may
properly be said against defects in the
Federal land system it is still true, aside
from the land subsidy system, now hap
PLY ended, that its administration has
sought to favor and encourage the &C.
tual settlers, whereas the States manage
ment of school and swamp land has been
one unbroken record of the rule of rings.
1t has been characterized by waste and i'll
efficiency, and In no case has the actual
settler been encouraged. The arid area of
the United States contains the last chance
for the settlement and noming of
our people. Its condition demanding
the artificial application of water
renders the proper regulation and dlstribu.
| tion of the water of paramount i'm portance.
This vast empire may be left and it may
| be so mismanaged that while rendered
available its inhabita will be like the
| Egyptian fellah, no better than slaves, or
it may be so developed that It's teeming
cultvators will be the most independent
people in the world.
| We oppose the cession of the arid lands
| to the States and Territories because we
believe that such action will result in waste.
inefficiency and corruption; that it will
result in nothing but evil. We believe this
question to be not narrow nor sectional,
but to be one of the deepest interest to the
whole American people. We believe that
1t demands broad, comprehensive and
patriotic treatment that nothing short of
the national Congress can provide.
4
| We demand plan that, while giving
| increase to our productive resources by
the DEVELOPMENT of the arid area, will
guarantee the occupation of these lands to
intelligent and independent farmers and
| American citizens only.
Mr.. Wright made stirring speech for
| the irrigation district law. II was, Of
course, to be expected that the author of
this law would be able to defend and up
| hold it in the congress, yet the enemies of
| the act were surprised little at the vigor
of his remarks and the arguments he pre-
| sented.
| The central thought to be kept in mind
| in the formulation of irrigation legislation
is the benefit to accrue to the consumer,
said Mr.. Wright. What is for the best
advantage of the consumer? What will
most contribute to his interest? Men will
differ as to the means by which the end is
to be attained, but. concerning the
initial point, we should occupy
common ground. The first problem
confronts us in the conditions to be met
and overcome. Affording an instance Of
the insurmountable. at least so far as State