The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1901-03-15
c0NGRESSI0 NAL BARGAINS.

The de feat OF the river and harbor
will by the thirteen hour speech of Sen
ator Carter will have a more far-reach-
ing effect than merely TO defeat that
particular measure. Ii may become a
memorable speech and mark an era in
parliamentary history; and it may call
the attention Of the country more sharp
ly 10 the corrupt nature Of congressional
bargains. We do not recall the exact
amount earned by the bill, but 1t was
many millions appropriated for many
meritoriOus, some permissible, some
mere corrupt jobs Of several kinds-to
re- elect AN incompetent Representative,
to feed hungry lobby, to pay a politi-
gal debt. The barrel was full of pork
to use a common congressional phrase.
The bill passed the House after very
bitter and at times a seemingly doubt
full fight. OF course the bill was never
In any real danger of defeat. Those
who wanted ana did not get what they
wanted united with those who were hon
estly opposed to the bill and the com
binatiOn was Temporarily in the ma
jOTity, bat before the test came the fra
<
The bill was amended in the Senate and
the House non concurred in The amend
ments and the bill was sent to the Con
fe-erce Committee and hung up there
and pat behind the army appropriation
bill onto which was tackled the CUBAN
and PHILIPPINE amendments and when
the dlibueter in the Senate againsti
those amendments became serious and
~, 4
that the river and harbo- bill would
never come to a vote until the army
bill was ont Of the way; and the fill
buster died away as calmly as an April
breeze at Hampton Roads and the path
way Of the army bill was made Us
smooth and placid as the stillest bay on
q summer afternoon. To those who
thus were lrduce6 or seduced TO per
NIT the semy bill to come to vote the
defeat Of the harbor bill mnst have been
extremely disappointing and filed their
righteous souls with pious indignation
at tbs apparent fraud shown them
But they were rot the victims IF that
deceit. Those who whispered the sweet
story Of the speedy passage of the bill
were in earnest aud honest in their pup
poss to pes the bill; they had pork ard
much Of u in that barrel; that money
was to be expended under the Republi-
can Secretary Of War and their political
debts were being paid by it. The de
feat was moe bitter and more exaspira-
to them than to the Democrats
The defeat was caused by the refusal
to insert larger and more expensive
job In the bill; and the story of that
matter IL full of interest and romance
il We could but tell it as it ought to be
told. There are but twelve hundred
millions Of acres Of what are known as
"aird lands" Thsee lands are scattered
through some half dozen or more West
srn states and territories. They are al
most valuelees now they are, however
wondrously fertile when irrigated. The
most productive land in the world. ex-
Cspt possibly in the valley Of the Nile,
are certain irrigated lands in Arizona
The headwaters of the rivers which
have their sources in the eastern slopes
Of the Rocky mountain range must fur
nieh the required reseryoirs-unless ar
tesian wells can be economically sunk
and they who obtain possession of the
land upon which the reservoirs and ca
mails must be constructed can exact trib-
ute from the owners Of the remaining
twelve hundred millions of acres. 1t
can b seen at glance the almost il.
imitabless wealth obtainable by those
who can take mp the sites and then get
Congress to construct the reservoirs and
canals; and those who can obtain the
lands.most .cheaply capable of irriga
ton.