Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1901-03-04

WASHINGTC.<, March 4.-From present a~De ara~ces, Congress ;r- tends to embark recklessly on the scheme of building storage reservoirs in the arid lands of the West with a view to making them fertile. While this is very praiseworthy object and the plan no doubt will be very profitable-to somebody-it is the opinion of many men both in and out of Congress, that the Government should go slow and count the enor- nous cost of the job before begin hing The millions poured out for endless river and harbor improve ments will not be in it, it is said, with the expenditures necessitated by this procedure when once it gets fairly under way.
 So fragrant is the proposition that Representative Tongue, of Oregon. who has a good deal of arid land in the western part of his own State. has nevertheless felt impelled to place on record his objections to the plan in a minority report to the House, He says: ssThe dedication of the proceeds of the sales of public lands in the arid and semi-arid States and Territories, not already reserved for educational purposes, for irritation and reclamation of the arid lands in those regions has my cordial and sin. cere approval. The proposed plan however, is crudely drawn. The dis tlnctlon between Federal and State authority is not carefully observed and much conflict is likely to ensue Some of the provisions are inconsist- ent With each other; others are quite obscure. Should it become law there would be much legal controyer- sy arising over it.
 Some features are very objection abel and should be eliminated. Under the provisions the proceeds of the
 VI puoiiS iduuS rom the 16 States and Territories named. excent. Ing only such as has been already been reserved and designated for edn. eaelohal purposes, is to be placed in an arid-land fund, and the entire sum to be expended under the sole control and in the sole discretion of tho coa fetary Of the Interior. That officer therefore, is vested with the full and ilhrestrained power to expend the whole or this money in any one State or Territory, in any portion of the onlted States which he may adinden to be arid, acording to his own nm restricted and uncontrolled discre. tloh.# Such power is vested in no other officer of the Federal Govern. ment.
 II this provision becomes a law. congress pours this money into the treasury, delivers the key to the Sec. retafy of the Interior, and reljn. pushes all control The Secretary of the Interior must act through agents and the agency of various officers Experience justifies us in saving that there will naturally be large demands Tor constant expenditures for in creased offlclals, increased salaries. demand for places to reward political favorites and personal friends and Tor increased machinery to carry ont 'his system Of irritation There will be no hand to restrain. no indment to decide, no discretion to be exercised except those of one man. Prior to the meeting of this Congress we have all ready appropriated and eyepnded for purpose of irritation S1 sos. POS Vet It mas been all investigation and practically no irrigation.
 It is fair to assume that the nros. sure to be the first and the nrnni,,al one to receive the benefits under this hlll will come from every State and territory having arid lands to TO. clalm. The merits of each appear greatest to their own citizens Those states and Territories who claim only fair share will be compelled to be in constant combat aainst those who want more than their fair share They will be compelled to constantly keep thelr merits, their deserts. their needs, and the feasibility of their pro. tests before the Secretary of the In- ter1or The pressure will be tremond. eus' and for an honest official at