The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-22

Chicago. Jan. 2l.-The Posts Wash
mgtnn special says: II IS understood
that Representative Newlands of Neva-
da has successfully negotiated treaty
with a sufficient number OF free silver
senators from the mountain districts OF
tie west to insure the passage OF a tariff
bill at the special session which will be
called by Major Mckinley next March
The first hope of the incoming admins
traticn was that they would be able 30
pass a tariff bill with the aid Of the
small contingent OF sound money Dem
Ccrats who viii be on deck after March
a. bur the pledges In that direction were
OF such an uncertain character and hing
ed OF. 50 many contingencies that no al
nances were sought and formed in the
quarter indicated.
Mr.. NewlanGs has been at work upon
this matter for several weeks and has
carried on the negotiations with great
skill. The deal has been of the most con-
fidential character and very few people
outside of those directly concerned la
the innermcst secrets of Major McKin-
ley are supposed TO know anything
about it, The perfect symmetry of the
new tariff bill may be somewhat disturb
ed by the necessity of recognition of in
terests represented by the free silver
allies of the 'strigntout' Republicans.
but the practical side of the case de-
mands such recognition.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Washington, Jan. 21.-The members OF
the river and harbor committee Of the
house will leave Washington Sunday
morning for trip for a few days 70
New Orleans. They go to personally in
spect the crevasSe in the Mississippi riv-
er at Pass LOutre. which the CONNER
cial bodies of the Mississippi valley are
anxious TO have stopped. There is a
difference OF opinion among the men,
bers whether the repairs need to be
made Immediately or whether they can
be safely deferred to be provided for in
the river and harbor bill of the next con-
gress
The committee today considered a bill
introduced by Representative Minor of
Michigan. for an appropriation for Green
Bay, Mich. In the last river and harbor
bill the NOISE provided $4,000 for this
harbor and the senate raised the amount
to $50, 900. In conference the senate
amendment was agreed to but through a
clerical error the item was omitted from
the bill. The question was referred to a
subcommittee
AN ARID LANDS MEASURE.
Washington. Jan. Representative
Herman of Oregon, the chairman Of the
committee on irrigation OF arid lands.
has introduced a bill embodying the
recommendations made by the national
irrigation congress recently held at
Phoenix, Ariz. The bill provides for a
public land commission to be composed
nf 10 .s~---.x -
Office, the director Of the geological sur
yey and three Other persons TO be ap-
pointed by the president, whose duty it
shall be to cause TO be made survey
and contoured typographical map of the
areas embraced in the public lands. on
which shall be outlined the larger nat
ural photographic basins and the lands
classified within each basin according as
they are most valuable for raising trees.
for pasture or for agriculture. The wat
err supply of each basin shall be ascer-
tanned at important points. The amount
which can be utilized for irrigation and
water power. and the amount flowing to-
ward the underground supply shall be
ascertained as far as possible and. where
necessary, experimental wells shall be
sunk TO determine the condition and TIE
quality OF available water. The charac-
ter and value of the timber within each
basin shall be ascertained and that
which can be cut without injuring the
water supply. The areas which can be
devoted to public grazing without dam-
age to the trees of waters shall be ascot
tanned. The commission shall. with the
approval of the secretary ~ t..a marc or.
make suitable regulations for the Occu-
patton ans Utilization OF the pU Ii lands
within the powers granted the secretary.
Persons shall be appointed whose duties
il shall b. 70 enforce the reguIai rs OF
the nomnlrliss., male for the protec-
ton OF forests, and lands. grazing lands