The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-03
Hard Fight Will Be Made.

Many matters OF leSlSldtlOlf stioHS III
one house are very weak in the other,
and irrigation is a notable instance. In
the house Congressman Shafroth may
succeed in getting his celebrated arid
land bill through. He has made gal
liant fight for it in two congresses, ana
has secured two favorable reports II ON
the committee on irrigation of arid
lands, of which he is a member. HIS
chances of securing the passage of the
bill last congress were good. if it could
have been taken up on suspension Gay,
but an obstreperous member from
Pennsylvania blocked the measure.
The western senators and represen-
tatives who are here say they regard
the arguments for irrigation legislation
unanswerable, in view OF the vast
amount being expended 10000 miles
away in the imperialistic experiment.
Why should not the Rocky Mountain
and great plains regions receive atten-
ton, particularly in a period of unex-
ampled prodigality of expenditure?
Why spend many. many millions in Sc
curing and retaining far distant islands
and of amalgamating people of foreign
and inferior races and treat the great
west like a Sahara spanning the Amer
lean continent? There is certain to be
a good fight all along the line on the
irrigation question, the strongest ever
mace IN congress.
Fight Against Roberts.
OF the contests for seats in the new
house that against Mr.. Roberts of Utah
will probably reach hearing first and
certainly at present attracts most at
tention. Mr.. Roberts has been on the
scene of action for week, and has
made very favorable impression by
his appearance and manner by the
IL &c hi
dence of success in retaining his seat
The Rev. George Tiff of Salt Lake, the
anti-Mormon preacher. has also been
here circulating tracts against Rob-
erts and doing other missionary work.
Next in interest is the Quay case. On
its determination rests the appointment
and admission of a Democratic senator
from Delaware and Republican senators
from California and Utah. Possibly the
Utah Senator will be silver" Repub-
lican, but he will be of the same brand
as Wolcott. Warren, Shoup and Carter
i. e., Republican who believes in
silver, but does not believe in. doing
anything in favor of it.
The Quay case is sure to be determin-
eddy contested, and it is not at all prob
able that it can be made party ques-
ton. Quay cannot be seated without
number of senators stultifying them
Selves. pul quay peOplc liiSlSl tIdt d
majority will vote to give him his seat.
Interesting Quay Contest.
Every state in the Union will take an
interest in this contest. inasmuch as a
decision in favor of Quay will be apt
TO encourage deadlockS in all legisla-
lures in the future where there is any
rivalry for the election and result fin
ally in what would amount to the cleo
ton of senators by legislatures becom
ing a dead letter, the selection being
made by governors. like ordinary state
patronage.
The Democratic state committee of
Pennsylvania has rather indiscreetly
rushed into the contest with an appeal
against Quay, which is not at all likely
to injure him with the Republicans,
who are in a very large majority in the
senate Still, there are several leading
Republicans who, in conversation. have
stated that it would be impossible for
them to support Quay. Among them
are Senator Julius c. Burrows and Sem
ator John NJ Thurston. both of whom
state that they are governed in their
attitude by the position they took on
the Corbett case.
The proceedings in the Welcome dis
barment trial at Helena have been fol-
lowed with much interest here, although
the Associated Press reports from Hell
ena have not been either very full or
very clear 1t is fully recognized that
the scandalous developments Of that
case will have q marked influence in the