The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-21
Car From Maine Will Not Consent
to Legislation.
FAVORED BY CONGRESS
sHAFRoTH'S BILL SETTLES THE
WHOLE QUESTION.
Would Probably Be Passed Were 1t
Not For the Autocrat In the
Speakers Chair - Congressman
Newlands' Land Commission Bill
Is An Important Measure.
nsneoial correspondenee.O


washington, March 1.-THE question
of the disposition and reclamation Of
The arid lands of the country has come
prominently to the front by reason OF
The favorable action taken by the house
committee on public lands. As hereto
fore stated in this correspondence, this
committee, by a large majority, has
decided TO favorably report the Shat
roth arid land bill. That measure closes
the whole arid land problem by giving
10 each state its own arid lands OF a
non-mineral character, ana leaving
each state free TO provide IN It's own
way for their disposition and reclaIha-
ton.
Representative King expresses great
confidence that there Will be some
definite legislation on the subject OF
Irrigation at the present session he
tells The Herald that the bill as re
ported is not all that he could WISH,
but it represents the joint views OF
the house members from the inter-
mountain states, and, for that reason,
will command his hearty support
Senator Warren, who has hlmSelI IN
troduced two arid land bills, TO the
support of which he is naturally COM
mitted. says that the Shafroth bill is
a step in the right direction. He be-
lieves it will pass the house, ana thal
arid land legislation will at last get
under way in congress.
The author of the bill IS less sangulne
than some of its friends in other states.
Representative Shafroth tells The
Herald that he sees breakers ahead
for the measure. Chairman Lacey OF
the house committee on public lands is
strenuously opposed to the bill, which
has been favorably reported from ms
committee. He is now engaged IN pre-
pairing an extended minority report. He
says that states which have not prop
erly awaited themselves of the priv
Ileges of the Carey law can hardly be
depended on to have charge OF all their
arid lands. There will be hard light
DVer the bill in the house, but the al
most unanimously favorable report
from the committee ought TO be very
helpful TO the proposition. Speaker
Reed is exerting himself TO getting
everything out of the way so that con-
gress can adjourn by the LIST of June.
1t is not likely that he viii permit this
arid land bill to be considered at the
present session. but he can hardly pre-
vent il being disposed of at the next
session. If it passes the house it is
almost certain to pass the senate, al
though it may be modified TO meet the
objections of some of the Wyoming
people who are not really in favor of
any arid land bill.
For my own part said Representa-
tive Shafroth of Denver to The Herald,
IT do not expect that Reed will give
the bill any chance at all. You see,
being a measure that apprOpriateS
United States property q. e, land). it
goes upon the Union calendar Under
the Reed practices this calendar is
never reached, and the only hope of
getting the bill up for consideration
Is by the adoption of a special rule.
This will not be permitted by Speaker
Reed, either at this or the last session
of this congress. The New England
and eastern opposition is so strong
that l am not at all hopeful, although
l am very glad that it has advanced
far enough to obtain an almost unani-
nous committee report"
NEWLANDS' BILL.
Representative Francis G. Newlands
of Nevada has also taken a hand in
prospective public land and irrigation
legislation. One bill offered by him
this week directs the secretary of the
interior TO cause surveys to be made
of the headwa ters of the Yellowstone,
Columbia, Snake, Little Colorado and
ella rivers, and particularly of the
Carson, Walker and Humboldt rivers,
to ascertain the best location and
probable cost ''Of storage reservoirs to
preserve their waters for industrial
purposes"
Representative Newlands has also
presented in the house an elaborate
scheme for the creation OF a public
land commission. His plan is that this
commission shall consist of the com
missioner of the general land office, the
director of the geological survey, and
three others persons, appointed by the
president. His bill directs the COM
mission TO cause to be made a survey
and contoured topographic map OF all
areas embracing public lands On this
map the larger natural photographic
basins are TO be outlined and the lands
classified as most valuable for the rails
ing of trees, for pasture, or agricul-
ture. The commission is to ascertain
the waiter supply of each basin and
its fuctuati0n at all important points,
and prepare statement showing the
amount available the amount utilized
for irrigation and water power, and
the amount flowing to waste. 1t is also
TO ascertain the underground supply
and, wherever necessary, sink expert
mental wells for the purpose of deter
mining the artesian and other condi-
tons and the quantity of water avail
able. 1t must also prepare plans and
estimates OF projects designed for the
more complete development and en-
ployment of the waters in agriculture
The commission rs to ascertain the
character and value of the timber or
fire wood in each basin, and designate
that which can be cut and sold with
out injury to the water supply. 1t
shall also designate the areas which
can be devoted to public grazing with
out damage to trees or waters An
other duty is to make suitable regu-
lations for the occupation and utiliza-
ton Of the public lands within the
limits of the powers granted to the
secretary of the interior.
The commission would, under the
Newlands bill. be authorized to expend
100000 II would appoint a superin-
tendent, with several assistants, to en- !
force its rules and regulations in each
of the large photographic basins. The
commission is directed by the bill to
survey and make contoured topograph- I
ic maps of the areas embracing public I
lands. This map is TO have especial /
reference to the water supply for ir-
rigation of the arid districts. so that
the commission shall at an early date /
report to congress recommendation for
the irrigation of the arid districts.
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