Evening star., 1901-12-12
Plans for Irrigation of Western
Lands,
DIFFERENCES AMONG FHE ADVOCATES
Main Features of the Hansbrouph
Bill Favored.
PROPOSITIONS ADVANCED

Thirteen OF the seventeen senators. rep
resentatives and delegates appointed by
the convention of western congressman in
Cheyenne last summer to draft a bill for
the reclamation of the arid domain by the
national government have been struggling
with the problem for several days
All the pending bills having been gone
over carefully. It has been unanimously de-
cided to take the Hansbrough bill as a basis
for discussion This means it is said,
that bill Will be the one on which all in
terests will unite. There will be some minor
changes in phraseology to facilitate admin
istration, but the main features will be pre-
served. The bill may be ready TO be re-
ported by the reassembling after the holi-
days. 1t will go to the irrigation commit
tees in both houses and take the place of all
pending measures of similar character.
Where There Is General Accord.
General support is given to the PROPOSE
ton to set aside the proceeds of sales OF
public lands in the arid states for the pur-
pose of irrigation, such proceeds to be
used to create an arid land reclamation
fund. which shall be made more or less
perpetual by returning to it the money
ceived from the sale of irrigated lands
after the irrigation works shall have been
constructed.
The committee is also practically unani-
mously in favor of authorizing the Secre-
tary of the Interior to Immediately begin
the construction of certain specified irriga-
ton enterprises, especially those recon-
mended by the Secretary of the Interior
in his annual report. If only one enter
prise is to be carried out great difference
of opinion will result as to which one it
shall be, owing to the conflict between To-
cal interests.
State vs.. Federal Control.
There are two factions in the committee
one favoring state control of these national
expenditures and the other in favor of ma
tional control of the same. The state con-
troll people have contended that none
of the works provided for shall be under
taken unless the state or states in which
they are TO be carried out shall have
adopted an approved system of water laws
and created a state board of engineers and
control, which shall have the direction of
the work.
Representative Newlands of Nevada leads
the fight for purely nationaliZed enter
prises. He is opposed by Representative
Mondell of Wyoming. Senators Dubois and
Warren support Mondell in his contention.
Representative Reader of Kansas Is an ear
nest supporter of national enterprises
Senator Kearns of Utah is Indifferent to
the method pursued, but hopes for the sue
cess of any enterprise which may be under
taken above any other consideration.
Representative Jones of Washington is in
favor of asking Congress to build single
reservoir wherever it may be deemed best
and trusting to the educational power of
the work to secure further appropriations.
Senator Bard of California is in favor of
leaving the matter entirely i'm the hands OF
the executive department of the govern
ment.
Senator Gibson Of Montana is an earnest
opponent of state control, as is Representa-
tive Shafroth of Colorado. Senator Diet
rich of Nebraska is in favor of compro-
mise of any kind which will result in some
action by Congress.
In Favor of State Control.
Senator Warren, who is chairman Of this
irrigation committee. is known to be in
favor of state control, but seems inclined to
accept any proposition which will result In
national irrigation enterprise. He sug-
gests that in all states having a state
organization or board of water control
the national work should be done
under the direction of such state officials.
and where a state has no such state or
ganiZation. the work should be done by
the national government
Delegate Rodey Of New Mexico is an
Xious to commit the irrigation forces to
oppose the proposed international dam in
the Rio Grande at FL Paso. Delegate Mark
Smith of Arizona is an earnest advocate of
the proposed San Carlos dam and believes
that no general irrigation bills will be
passed by Congress. He is in favor of
asking for direct appropriations for specific
works, leaving to the future the passage
of general irrigation bill by Congress.
Irrigation Bills Introduced.
4 large number of irrigation bills have
already been introduced by senators and
representatives. They were taken up by
the committee and discussed at length
in hopes of evolving a measure which can
be presented to Congress by western MEM
bers, as the unanimous choice of the entire
representation.
The doubt expressed TO the probable
enactment of any general irrigation bin
arises from the opposition to extravagant
appropriations or the enactment of any
laws which promise to lead i'm the future
to heavy additions to the national expense
bill
Members of Congress from east of the
Missouri river are taking no part in the
irrigation controversy. Some of them will
oppose any appropriation in this direction.
Many of them are quite willing to vote FOR
1T, however, as soon as it is presented TO
them In tangible form
With the Presidents approval and the
strong Endorsement of the Secretaries Of
the Interior and Agriculture. it would now
appear as though majority could be Sc
cured in both House and Senate for the
principle, involved in national aid to irriga-
tion. providing the initial appropriation is
not too large.