The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-12-19
THE AIMS OF IRRIGATION
OPPONENT OF THE WRIGHT ACT
ADDRESSED THE CONGRESS.
other Experts Believe the Govern
ment should az Once Provide
Reservoir Systems.

Phoenix, Ariz, Dec. I6.-The irrigation
congress today took up the matter OF
recommendations for legislation. One OF
the main speakers OF the morning was
George H. Maxwell OF San Francisco.
counsel In the United States supreme
court against the.wright act OF California
aud one OF the main opponents In the Cal
dornia delegation to the Endorsement OF
the bill He suggested first the creation
of a national irrigation commission; sec
ond. the cassion OF arid lands to the state
surerintendenJs. assuring their reclama-
ton and settlement by actual settlers ana
preventing q monopoly Of tho public do
main; third. the preservation OF forests
a. the sources OF water supply: fourth,
the construction OF water storage reser-
volrs by the national government. and he
urged upon the convention It's strong sup
port of the bill OF Senator Allen, appro-
priating 81. 100000 for surveys for location
OF reservoirs.
The Speakers.
Judge kibbey, who rendered the tudg-
ment OF the distribution OF the main wa
ter supplies OF Arizona, argued that legts-
latiOn was dangerous: that its tendency
was toward monopoly and private own
ership OF water.
W. 5, Creighton, editor OF the Los An
geles Herald. read an interesting paper
on the Wright irrigation act. He stated
that the recent decision OF the supreme
court sustaining the validity OF the Law
was gratifying, as anything else would
have been reflection upon the stability
CT the laws OF California, and would have
disastrous effect upon outside investors
in her securities. on the whole, he said
Hayu -, al
though there had been many lrregulari-
ties in It's administration. He demanded
legislation by wise and proper amend
ments.
Mr.. Creighton advised the appointment
o. a state commission to fully investigate
these matters and to report 10 the legis-
lAture such changes IN the law as ex-
perience suggested and a due regard for
the interests OF the land holder, as well
as the bond owner required
Dick w. Smith Of Elmlra, n. Y, an lr-
rigation writer OF note. advocated the
establishment OF q national irrigation
court on the same lines as the land court
which has proved SO successful The ri
parian right idea should no longer be al
lowed to rule in the courts, but should
be specifically disallowed. Uniform legis.
lation should be adopted IN every state
having similar irrigation conditions, anC
an irrigation commissioner should be ap-
pointed to see that LAe laws are executed
aud that justice Is done to all Tn,
speaker considered the Wright act an ad
mirable measure. but one that would ueec
much amendment before is best work
would be accomplished
Mr.. Smith brought to the convention
message from President-elect Mckinley
whom he had seen within a week. MaIo
Mckinley said: You may say to tn,
irrigation congress that l send its mem
beers a cordial greeting; that in their er
forts for the improvement OF the Yves
they have my best wishes, and that al
measures for the Improvement Of tn,
arid west that may come before me dur
ing my administration shall receive mi
earnest and considerate attention"
Papers were also submitted by J. d
Schuyler Of California, A. E Blount o
New Mexico. T. s. Van Dyke OF Califor
MIA W. C. O'Neill OF Arizona, E D. Hud
son OF Illinois and Captain W. ~ Glass
ford OF Denver.
\ call OF states developed strength 70.
the government control OF waters, severa
OF the speakers considering Irrigation a.
an Interstate affair that might lead q
grave dissension II placed under state
control
Mr.. Poppy of Arizona Introduced
memorial petition to congress to TAX
notice OF the destitute condition Of 10. w
Pima and Maricopa Indians, deprived oi
livelihood through deprivation by
whites OF their water supply. and askInl
national aid for the construction Of q
reservoir for Impounding water at the
buttes on the ella river. above Florence