The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-22
IRRIGATION BILL AS NOW DRAWN
A GOOD THING FOR sECRE-
TARY OF INTERIOR
ALL wAULD HAVE TO KoToW
Members From Arid Land States
Have Agreed, However, That
Scheme Proposed Is One
Feasible Plan
PROMISE OF A BITTER FIGHT
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
washinpton, ID. C.

FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washin gton, ID. c.
WASHINGTON. Dec 21.-The irrigation
bill agreed upon by the committee con-
sisting of seventeen senators and rep
resentatives of the arid land states Sc
lected to draft such a measure, contains
some provisions of far-reaching import
ance. Their consideration in congress
will cause sharp controversy, In when
the traditional rights of that body Will
be involved, as well as the proprlety OF
such expenditures.
In all other appropriation measures
public buildings, river and harbor, post
offices. ETC., congress itself decides for
what things the money shall go, or upon
the specific projects which the govern
ment is willing to authorize. In this
bill, however, 1t is proposed to put a
reclamation fund amounting to nearly
So, 00O0tJ a year, with accommodations, al
the disposal of the secretary OF the IN
terror.
Doubtless this is a much better way
than for congress to select favored prof.
ects upon the log-rclling system winch
prevails in other 'pork-barrel' bills, pro
vided always that tie right kind OF
man is secretary of the interior. If this
bill becomes law his ante-room will be
tives from the arid land states, each
seeking to get the most possible for his
own constituents, by every hook ano
crook and device known to politics.
Will Be Bitterly Fought.
That congress will give up it's authority
in this matter without struggle. and
leave interests of so far-reaching char
acter at the discretion of an admlnistra-
tive officer, is not to be believed. Chair
man Cannon, of the appropriations COM
mittee, is expected to lead this fight.
The reason most Of the members from
the irrigation states will oppose him, unit
ing as they have on this bill, is that
they find no othar feasible way for se-
curing irrigation. They could never them
selves agree upon projects and were Sc
small number as any one years FUNDS
could provide taken as basis for Dill
these would not enlist the support OF
enough senators and representatives to
secure it's passage. 1t has therefore been
decided that united and harmonious ac-
ton could only be secured by making
the reclamation fund a grab-boX, with the
secretary of the interior designated to
reach in his hand and do the grabbing.
He would, incidentally, have enormous
power to reward friends and punish enc
mics.
Settlers as Caretakers.
Another feature of the bill proposed
by the irrigation conference is the turn
ing of the works over to me settlers,
who shall operate and maintain as a
body corporate, the government reserVlng
only the operation and maintenance of
the~reservoirs. This is the town-meeting
system applied to a body of water. 1t
reposes responsibility upon those directly
and vitality interested; it secures economy
of operation, and it has in the West the
support of custom, for many works are
so managed today. The government, 1t is
maintained, should keep in its own hands
the reservoirs, just as it holds the forese
reserves, because of their naturally fun
damental relation to the whole irrigation
system.
Should there be no irrigation legisla-
ton at this session it will be due to
the opposition of the grazing interests.
which are not pleased with bill of the
sort outlined.