New-York tribune., 1901-01-27
CONTEST OVER IRRIGATION
- AMENDMENT TO THE INDIAN BILL
CAUSES LIVELY DEBATE IN
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
,,,..bington Jan. e6.-National irrigation was
used in the Senate for three hours to-day. the
%os.~ % icing an amendment TO the Indian Appropria-
teAs bI providing for surveys looking TO the con-
uO- u-ior Of an irrigation dam and ditch for the
su-,,q Of the reservation Of the Pima and Mari
~ rndians at san Carlos, the ella River.
s-ona Mr.. Plat, Of Connecticut, led the oppo-
-. and was assisted by MI. Quarles Of wis
Sin Mr Stewart Mr.. Chandler and Mr. Thurs
- .rgued for the experiment
~ report OF the conference committee on the
- Reorga nization bill was presented. and Mr.
-1alsv announced that he would cal IL up on
Monday
-aSsntials Of Frederick T Dubois as Senator
60 from Idaho and Of Shelby NJ. Cullom as Sen
o..r.elect from Illinois. the presentation being
-. IN the case Of Mr.. Dubois by Mr.. Heitfed
- IN Mr.. Culloms case by Mr.. Mason The desk
= me Illinois Senator was covered with flowers.
= m his appearance. the first since his re-elec-
.ion he was cordially greeted by his associates on
the floor
-.sol,tjon asking for all the information at tie
,,mand OF the President or any executive officer
= The Government as TO the extent Of lands in
"a philippine Islands held for ecclesiastical pur-
,sss the character and value Of such lands, and
S,Sstber any official had on behalf OF the Govern
nent entered INTO any ooiisa'loi d. l" ''ie
sush lands.
v-ben the Indian bill was taken up Mr. Platt op-
ss5 the appropriation Of 100000 for investigation
~ survey Of proposed irrigation dams and canals
~ the ella River, in the san Carlos Reservation,
.-vona He said the plan would. commit the Gov
srnnent to 2 new policy. which would he one OF
,,anse cost before ii was carried out. Mr.. Platt
rlsined that settlers al the head OF the Gila
r,vsr had taken up rights al the head or the
cream and thus cut down the supply. The amend
-,sn- he said. was framed in reality 10 commit
=. Government to policy of National irrigation
r-,s National Irrigation Congress and the Geoogi-
osl survey had combined those who believed that
L,ynanrarian principles dictated that the Indians
sboud be supplied with irrigation. that they might
b selfsupportng and the irrigation forces so that
,bev were almost irresistible The scheme would
.omnit the Government TO the expenditure Of
ssSa0 o0 He criticised the reports OF the Geologi-
csl survey All the irrigation needed for the Ind
,sns coud be secured for 500 00, but the irrigation
advocates favored this scheme because ii would
foist the burden Of irrigation OF the arid lands In
evitaby the Government
Nr. stewart contended that the amendment con-
templated only the completion Of the surveys al
ready under way and that nothing would follow
hut submission of the complete plan TO Con-
rress He maintained that every other method of
rrovidine water for the Indians had been ex-
hausted leaving only that proposed by this amend
ment Mr Stewart made an argument for irriga-
ton OF arid lands.
Mr Quarles discussed the irrigation proposition.
indorsing it, but deporing what he called the
guerilla tactics which attempted TO secure legisla-
ton on appropriation bills rather than by bringing
forward q bill contemplating the whole scheme Of
watering the arid regions What he opposed was
the method. and not the scheme. The States and
the Nation must act in harmony TO preserve water
rights and that action must be taken quickly TO
secure all rights for the people.
Mr. ThurstOu. chairman of the Indian Committee,
resented the imputatlOn that the committee was
moving by indirection or was endeavoring TO secure
by unfair means any advantage TO the irrigation
phases Of the storage OF water by such dam as Is
proposed. Then, taking up the general features. he
SAID ne site for the proposed Gam was vas the most
favorable that might be CHOSEN Tor an irrgaton eX-
pertinent He protested that there was always OBJ
lection when small appropriation was asked Tor
the West while Western men We're ready TO vote
Mr. Chandler causticaIly replied to the structures
On NeW-kngiand py MI Ihurston, reviewing the
history OF irrigation legislation and saying he
favored comprehensive plan OF irrigation and
hoped some such scheme would be reported:
Mr. Thurston, referring 10 the East said moss
seemed 10 grow not only on the houses but on
Mr.. Plat put himself on record as against any
classification Of the East against the West or
any other section. He had always, he said, en-
deavored faithfully 10 represent the entire country
and he was favorable 10 an irrigation scheme when
lobby in the interest Of irrigation and declared that
feeling had been worked up without any reference
70 the cost Of the work
Amendments were agreed 10 appropriating 81, 900
for light, heat and water supplies at Klamath
Agency. Oregon: permitting the Secretary Of the
Interior 10 eXpend not more than $4,000 for pur-
chase OF water rights for the Southern Utes: ap-
proprating 1000 for investigating the mineral
character Of lands in Indian reservations and TO
withhold from such reservation all mineral lands;
providing for investigation TO whether or
Territory 10 maintain free school system: permit
ting the sale OF 20 600 feet of timber from the
executive session the Senate adjourned with the
irrigation amendment pending