The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1899-03-31
UNITE TILE
WEST
An Aggressive Policy
to be Pursued by
Western Senators
and Representatives
They viii Continue the Demand made
at the Last Session Of Congress, for
Fair Apportlonment OF River
and Harbor Appropriation.


The people Of the West are beginning
20 realize that they have, At various times,
through Congress, been used rs cats
paw to further the sectional interests Of
the East. and at the same time have been
denied an equal or just division Of pub
TIC money 10 devolope their own region.
Western representatives IN Congress
have always waged an uphill fight to
get recognition for their vast territory,
and this was more than ever apparent in
the closing days Of Congress Just adj
iourned. when the item 10 the River and
Harbor Bill providing for the construct
ion Of Western reservoirs, agreed TO by
the senate after gallent fight by the
Western Senators, was finally killed in
conference by the action Of the members
OF the House Of Representatives.
Western men ARE beginning to see
clearly that irrigation will not win its
own battle against Eastern opposition,
and that the only hope Of their securing
just recognition is by united action
They did unite in the session lust
closed, and they made grand fight for
the West and they almost won the day.
Such action needs ouly to be continued
to be successful Western men are orga-
nizing, even now, to carry the war into
Africa during the coming Congress. and
they purpose to not only demand but to
socue Just proportion of Government
money for The development Of their sec
ton Of the Union.
Arid-la nd irrigation has. however, won
many frindei in the East. and WAS only
through the most bitter and determined
opposition on the part Of its enemies that
It's interests were defeated in 1850
A Marrow, Selfish Policy
The appropriation inserted by the SEN
ate in the River and Harbor Bill for the
construction Of Storage Reservoirs on the
he .dwaters Of The Missouri, and for the
survey Of site in every arid and serni-arid
state, was forced out in the Conference
Committee, chiefly through the narrow,
sectional and selfish opposition of Repre-
sentative Burton, OF Ohio, the Chairman
of the House Committee ON Rivers and
Harbors. As was charged ON the floor of
the house by Mr. Tongue. of Oregon.
when the bill came up there for passage,
Mr. Burton OF Ohio, had succeeded in
putting together ri yer and IIsrbor bill
which gave to his own State 50. 5S6. 500,
and for improving the Ohio river from
head to mouth, various additional sums
aggregating 81, OH, OO0-a bill which gave
VA, OO2, $50. 40 to the fifteen States repre-
serted upon the Committee ON Rivers
and Harbors and only Sl,57S, 1902. IS to all
the other States.
Mr.. Burton saw no objection to the APP
preparation OF $4,000 made by the bill
for the repair OF reservoirs at the head OF
the Mississippi river nor to the building
Of levees on the Missouri for flood protec
tion, nor to the expenditure Of millions Of
dollars for this purpose on the Mississippi
which saved the Mississippi valley farm
err from destruction by flood but he OBJ
iected bitterly to removing the cause OF
these great evils, TO control which mill
ions are expended annually. He object
ed to rescrvoiring the llood-waters at the
hcad of the Missouri in Wyoming. be-
cause, perchauce, some drought-stricllen
farmer Of the West might &c, soma bcnc-
tt from il by using some of the waters
to irri gate his parchcd fields.