The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-04

majority of these rest on the uncertain
foundation of court decisions rem
dered in ordinary suits at law.
With a few creditable exceptions,
the arid states have failed to pro-
vide for the certain and just division
of streams in times of scarcity. Lax
and uncertain laws have made it posi-
BILE to establish rights to water in ex-
cess of actual uses or necessities, and
many streams have already passed into
private ownership or control equiva-
lent to ownership.
Water As Public Property.
Whoever controls a stream practical
" controls the land it renders produc-
tive, and the doctrine of private own
ershlp of water apart from land can
not prevail without causing enduring
wrong. The recognition of such own
ership, which has been permitted to
grow up in the arid regions, should
give way to a more enlightened and
larger recognition of the rights of the
public in the control and disposal of
the public water supplies. Laws found
ed upon conditions obtaining in humid
regions, where water is too abundant
to justify boarding it, have no proper
application in a dry country.
In the arid states the only right to
water which should be recognized is
that of use. In irrigation this right
should attach to the land reclaimed and
be inseparable therefrom. Granting
perpetual water rights to others than
users, without compensation to the
public, is open to all the objections
which apply to giving away perpetual
franchises to the public utilities of
cities. A few of the Western states
have already recognized this, and have
Incorporated in their constitutions the
doctrine of perpetual state ownership
of water.
The benefits which have followed the
unaided development of the past justi-
fly the nations aid and cooperation In
the more difficult and important work
yet to be accomplished. Laws 50
vitality affecting homes as those which
control the water supply will only be
I effective when they have the sanction
of the irrigators; reforms can only be
final and satisfactory when they come
through the enlightenment of the peo-
pie most concerned. The larger de-
Velopment which national aid insures
should, however, awaken in every arid
state the determination to make its
irrigation system equal in justice and
effectiveness that of any country in the
civilized world. Nothing could be more
unwise than for isolated communities
II y
mentally, instead of profiting by what
is already known elsewhere. We are
dealing with a new and momentous
question, in the pregnant years while
institutions are forming, and what We
do will affect not only the present but
future generations.
Our aim should be not simply to re-
claim the largest area of land and
provide homes for the largest
MN ha,, .f
for this new industry the best possible
social and Industrial conditions; and
this requires that we not only under
stand the existing situation, but avail
ourselves of the best experience of the
time in the solution of its problems. A
careful study should be made, both by
the nation and the states, of the irri-
cation laws and conditions here and
abroad. Ultimately it will probably
be necessary for the nation to cooper
ate with the several arid states in pro-
portion as these states by their legis
lation and administration show them
selves fit to receive it.
Our New Prosecutions.
In Hawaii our aim must be to devel-
OPP the territory on the traditional
American lines. We do not wish re-
gion of large estates titled by cheap la
Dor; we wish healthy American COM
munity of men who themselVs till the
farms they own. All our legislation for
the islands should be shaped with this
end in view the well-being of the av-
erage home maker must afford the true
test of the healthy development of the
islands. The land policy should as near
ly as possible be modelled on our home
stead system.
1t is plasure to say that it is hardly
more necessary to report as to Porto
Rico than as to any state'or territory
within our continental limits. The ISL
and is thriving as never before, and it
is being administered efficiently and
honestly. Its people are now enjoying
liberty and order under the protection
of the United States, and upon this fact
we congra tulate them and ourselves.
Their material welfare must be as care
fully and jealousy considered as the
welfare of any other portion of our
country. We have given them the
great gift of free access for their pro-
ducts to the markets of the United
States. | ask the attention of the
Congress to the need of legislation con-
corning the public lands of Porto Rico
Reciprocity with Cuba.
In Cuba such progress has been
made toward putting the Independent
| government of the island upon a firm
lOOIlnS lHdI DtlOIe The present StSSIOH
of the Congress closes this will be an
accomplished fact. Cuba will then
start as her own mistress and to the
beautiful Queen of the Antilles as she
unfolds this new page of her destiny
we extend our heartiest greetings and
good wishes. Elsewhere l have dis
cussed the question of reciprocity. In
the case of Cuba, however, there are
weighty reasons of morality and of ma
tional interest why the policy should
be held to have a peculiar application,
and l most earnestly ask your atten-
ton to the wisdom, indeed to the vital
need, of providing for a substantial
reduction in the tariff duties on
Cuban imports into the United
States. Cuba has in her constitu-
ton affirmed what we desired, that she
should stand, in international matters,
in closer and more friendly relations
with us than with any other Power;
ton of honor and expediency to pass
her material WE'LL being.
The Philippine Problem.
In the Philippines our problem is
larger. They are very rich tropical
islands, inhabited by many varying
tribes, representing widely different
stages of progress toward civilization.
Our earnest effort is to help these peo-
pie upward along the stony and diff
cult path that leads to elf-govern-
meut We hope to make our admin
istration Of the islands honorable to
our nation by making it of the high
est benefit to the Filipinos themselves
and as an earnest of what we intend
! a. INT IN rHot