Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-08
IRRIGATION MEN ELATED
Friends of the Measure Evidently Agreed
Upon Control Of Water,
CONSIDER CHANCE OF PASSAGE GoOr
South Dakota Members Pushing the
Free Homes Measure and Believe
IL VIII Receive Majority
in the senate.
,From a stan Correspondent

NNhBltoS dIt tldNtu ONtT tue OullOuh loi
favorable legislation during the present
session OF congress. Representative Mon
dell of Wyoming today filed his report upon
the senate measure and upon that measure
the fight is to be made in the house upon
this question in which the west is vitality
interested. The interests which have been
fighting the bill have been placated.
George H. Maxwell, chairman OF the eX-
ecutive committee Of the National Irriga
tion association, said today: The bill as
reported from the committee today meets |
with the full approval of the National Irri-
cation association and will receive its |
hearty support. Every defect in the bill |
to which the association has objected has |
been cured by amendment. The rights Of
Nebraska are protected beyond question by |
the amendment inserted in the bill having |
relation to interstate use OF waters and it |
will be our earnest endeavor to help the |
friends OF irrigation pass this most i'm !
portant measure"
MOndeII Explains BILL
Representative Mondell who has really |
borne much of the brunt Of the fighting |
which has gone on in favor Of some scheme |
OF national irrigation said today: The state |
control clause Of the bill as originally drawn |
was offered by those living along the lower |
courses O. the flaLte river. IL not only |
recognized the validity Of state laws relative
to the appropriation and distribution of
water. but also tended afirmatively to ex-
tend the rights of Wyoming and Colorado |
to an extent which might ieopardize the
interests Of Nebraska. There was no
thought Of doing this whatsoever, as 1t is
universally recognized that in the arid |
region the rule of prior appropriation gov |
erns and establishes the rights regardless |
OF state lines, but in order to remove any |
fear Of the effect which the language used |
in the bill might have an amendment was
adopted as follows: And nothing herein |
shall affect the right Of any state or of
the federal government or any appropriate
user OF the waters in any interstate
stream. This amendment recognizes
clearly the well understood rule of the arid
region that the state or the citizens thereof
occupying the upper courses Of stream
cannot deprive prior appropriations OF water
in another state lower down the stream.
The fact is that there has been consid-
cradle misa apprehension as to the views Of
those who drafted the original state con-
troll clause and inasmuch as there was no
thought or intention to change the rule OF
priorities in the arid region or to give any
state or the citizens thereof any right to
injtNe or y ~ way effect The rights Of
citizens of other states II was not dfficult
to adopt Language which is believed clearly
expresses the wish of all friends OF irriga-
tion."
Change In Grand Island POstmasters.
Senator Dietrich today announced that he
had recommended DR.. H. c. Miller for
postmaster at Grand Island, vice ". H.
Harrison, and Frank J. Hakel at Tuohy,
Saunders county, vice A. B. Chapek, re-
signed.
In speaking OF the Grand Island appoint
ment, Senator Dietrich said: Immediately
after my election to the senate | announced
that / would appoint Dr. Miller as post
master at Grand Island. had known him
for a very long time as a splendid citizen
and a good republican Mr.. Harrison
! term will expire May 8. have no feeling
against Mr.. Harrison whatsoever. l have
believed that a change would be for the
better end / am carrying out my long ex-
! pressed intention by making the nomina-
| ton"
Senator Kittredge stated today that it
was the hope OF the friends of the free
homes bill to get the Rosebud treaty bill,
! which has a free homes clause attached to
! IT, before the senate on Wednesday, and
| that while no definite agreement had been
| reached IL seemed entirely probable that
! Immediately after the morning hour that
day the bill would be laid before the senate
| for consideration on its merits. While
| close canvass OF the senate has not been
made the friends OF the free homes meas
| ure believe they have votes enough in the
senate to adopt this feature Of the bill not
w!thstanding the opposition of some of the
older senators like Platt of Connecticut and
| Cockerill of Missouri In any event It Is
| q nalya Aala
ton to force a vote upon the proposition on
the theory that II they are defeated they
will not be in any worse shape than they
are now.
| Little Hope for VanhOuten.
! Senator Allison and Representative Hep
burn Of Iowa had a conference today with
the president relative TO the consulship for
George H. Vanhouten, one Of the best
known men of Iowa, and secretary Of the
agricultural and horticultural societies OF
the state he being the founder of the lat
ter society Mr.. Vanhouten Is desirous Of
getting to some country where he can con-
tinue Investigations along horticultural
lines The president, however, gave the
Iowa contingent but little hope for any
thing in the immediate future.
Congressman Hull of Des Moines stated
today that he would not serve on the re-
publican national congressional committee
unless Representative Babcock who has
been chairman of such committee for the
last three terms, is continued in that ca
pacity Mr. Babcock has insisted that his
health would not warrant his assuming the
position again. but republicans generally
are urging him to accept.
j. NJ Edmiston of Lincoln is in the city.
r. o. Fink of Omaha. who has been Wis
iting in Washington for some time past, left
for Nebraska tonight.
Upon motion OF Senator Kittredge. Con-
gressman Burke was today admitted to
practice before the supreme court.
Congressman Burke has recommended DR..
G. w Potter for appointment as a member
OF the board Of examining surgeons at Red
field. S. d.
j. NJ. Fisher, mayor Of Deadwood, s. D.,
and wife are in Washington.
M