Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1900-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.


'fNS'iflN0lO Wv ~ IUt
Special Correspondence.
Washington. y. c.. June 2--iiursuant
10 the action OF the convention In New
Mexico In opposition 20 The steplSns
bill preventing the use u water for ir-
rlgation In that territory and by com-
mission by Gov. otero. the FIRST dcle-
gation 90 reach WASHINGTON consisted
Of ex- Delegate Ferguson sheriff Hub
bell Mayor Marion. = Burkhart and
G.. X, Newhal
Delegate Ferguson promptly made
arrangements and had hearing before
the house subcommittee on foreign af-
fairs, Chairman HIT. % the committee.
also being present, Delegate Fer
gusson. wanted TO know why In the
preamble. Colorado was coupled with
New Mexico. but IN the body Of the bill
Colorado was entirely left out. and n
II was not. because Colorado had two
strong senator's and two members OF
the house. while New Mexico was
practically mrepreaented7 Mr.. atoph-
ems could give NO satisfactory answer
to that Inquiry But upon Mayor Mar
ron making the suggestion that a syn
dlcaie haq bought ;ho lands. or had an
option on most 81 them In connection
with ,he scheme for the interna-
tional dam MIR stephens was quick 20
ask Tor proofs, and record proof al
that. and then asked n British cspltal
had not built the Elephant Butte dam
Ex- Delegate Ferguson came promptly
10 the aid ~ Mayor Marron and aaid he
acknowledged that they had secured
large amount of British capital 20 con-
struct the dam and reservoir: that he
considered II more commendable 10 ae-
cure British OF any other capital rath-
er than 70 be begging congress 10 take
two or three million dollars out OF the
treasury TO erect a dam for the bone
M or private property. mostly owned
by foreigners. and as 70 the syndicate
controlling most 90 the land az or be-
low III Paso. which could be improved
by the International dam. that Il waa
a matter OF general notoriety and that
he ala not believe the projectors OF the
International dam made any denial
about it. and furthermore. Il was
matter OF generHl not0riety. Mr. steph-
hart had statistics 10 show that only
abou 1900 acres had ever been IN cul-
ilvatlon az and below ~ Paao, while
many times that amount % land IN
New Mexico had been receiving water
ana assistance FOR many times thpt
amount Again no answer came In re-
ply MIR Burkhart said that Il was
proposed 10 catch enough water at the
Elephant Butte dam 70 irrigate all the
land IN the valley. but might have
some 20 spare 20 ri Paso
Mr. Marron believed that the Bill
/ would ruin New Mexico Tor the benefit
of few private spectators al and
near IN Paso
The friends Of the International dam
| ostcnsibly pretended that Il would not
! interfere with New Mexico. yet Il was
plain the practical results would be 20
! destroy vested rights and make New
M'Sico a desert between the Colorado
! llnc--where the people north would
have a continuous increasing ua Of wa
ter 10 El Paso. and preventing the
construction Of reservoirs 10 hold even
the Hood waters Furthermore, while
they pretend to want water for only
900 acres " land they wish the gov
crnmont 20 expend g. 900 90 or more.
which would give enough water 20 irri-
gate about 900. 900 acres % land, which
IL many times more than the land IA
that valley which they could ever hope
20 place under irrigation.
The New Mexico committee E0t the
best % the argument on every point.
and % the apparent pleasure OF Chair
man HIT and 10 the surprise Of the
lother members of the sub-committee
sheriff Hubbell ana Mayor Marion.
and Messrs. Burkhnrt and Newhall vls.
tied New York friends and relatives In
other places
The next delegation 20 arrive con.
sisted ~ Judge A. y Fall. Judge 3 n
Newoomb. Major W. H H. Llewallyn,
and Judge Freeman. Ex- Delegate Fer
guHs0n having made arranEemcn The
last arrivals. together with Delegate
Perca, ex-DoleEate FERGUSON. Mr
Burkhart and The citizen correspond
cnt, appeared AT the rooms or Chair.
man Davis, cf the foreign affaira com.
mittee al $50 a. m. Chairman Davis
received the delegation very gracicusiy
and listened with marked attention
Judge FAN went over the whole case
fully explaining every fact and detail
Chairman Davis did not try 10 con.
ceal the fact that he was enlightened
and pleased ht the hearing ana thai
many points had been brought vlvlal,
20 hlR mind that had never been pre-
seuted Ia this or any other case be-
fore. Judge Fan made a good impres
sion. and Chairman Davis gave aasur
nnces that the bin would 60 over 10 "a,
next session. and requested that brief
~ all tho facts and the whole situation
be- nled during the vacation
The delegation then proceeded % vis
% Chairman Iiitt. OF the house foreiEl
analrs committee. and the whole cas-
was again presented. lie took D Ersa
interest IN the matter. asked manl
questions examining maps. ana re-
Qnosted that briefs be fled durinE va
cation. 40 the case goes over
Judge Fall received his last arm
! check ana with Judge Newcomb hal
gone home. while Major Licwellyn 10 d
, New York on mining matters
Z Il asnKrFs