The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-23
WASHINGTON NEWS AND VIEWS.


ali present signs fail the so-caed leaders Of the house VIII
in the near future defeat fully crushing as were
those in connection with the Cuban reciprocity bill ana inc
Statehood bill The fact that the olgachy was not able 70
control the legislation referred has added strength to he
pdpendent element which has been fighting the leaders to
50 long has given the confidence necessary to carry on
successful campaign The result will probably be disas
ou Henderson, Payne, Grosvenor and Dalzeh anu ""
others who train with them
The immigration bill is the over which the next
struggle will the leaders and some OF the hde
bound republicans the hand and the democrats ana
the independent republicans the other The leaders are
strongly opposed TO the bill while all OF the Western repub
leans we'll many from other sections OF the country
and practically all OF the democrats sodly Tor IT, Inc
feature of the matter from the standpoint OF the au
ers afforded by the fact thai the president TOO Is very
yoraby inclined toward the 1t not known that
he any active interest in the Statehood matter but MS
efforts get the reciprocity bill through are well known
and the that the combined strength Of the men who have
heretofore had trouble in controlling legislation III inc
house backed though they by the chief executive aea
push through such the president favored IN
dicacs very clearly that the ogarchy will experience con
siderable difficulty in defeating the immigration bill for
which the president doing everything in his power Unless
the alleged leaders change their position while there yet
time there little doubt that they will be overrdden
again which will be at all favorable to the
perpctuation OF their power systematic poll OF the house
by friends OF the irrigation and they
positively that there decided majority in favor
the bill and that further there nothing in evidence to
indicate that considerable number Of the representatives
will change their minds
The irrigation bin has passed the and been
ported house with amendments which said to
be quite satisfactory the friends OF the measure 1t was
believed by those who favor the passage of the bill that the
senate oophoes through which SPECTATORS might
profit but amendments added by the house committee
believed be Of such to remedy all existing
defects and make the what intended to be
one favor OF the home seeker and the home maker
The bill in the form in which it has been placed before
the house may be described in brief new homestead
law made applicable arid lands 1t provides that the
crnmeu shall rivers through the building of
eryors and main line canals and shall regulate the flow
OF already in existence make their waters
available for irrigation purposes during periods of drouth
Only those be permitted land under this
newly created supply who truth and in intent
builders and appropriations of land restricted
the homestead law modified and severely guarded in its
purpose by the operations Of this special These settlers
only reside upon their land but return to
the government in Of time by series OF deferred
payments the entire OF creating the supply OF
which is to be made available.
The sentiment among the rank file of the republicans
is that the leaders their side should only oppose
the irrigation measure, but should support 1t heartily, max
ing it, lar possible, party administration bill 1t
claimed that the passage OF the bill with all Of the strength
OF the republicans in its favor would much for the
publican candidates those Western congressional districts
where present the party lines very closely drawn and
where a slight influence might throw election
the other But the leaders usual think they know
about the than the who represent the dis
pressure is brought bear upon them they will probably
continue their opposition the end, with the result that
they will again be by the democrats and members
of their party they have been previous
sions during the present session
Representatives OF the Western States and Territories
have been giving attention this bill than any othet
the calendar perhaps for they fully aware Of the
of benefit that will result if enacted
law. They have lost opportunity place facts
figures regarding the irrigation scheme before their col
leagues, and the result OF this campaign OF education
has been referred has undoubtedly been highly satsac
tory One of the strong favor the bill that
will take any funds directly from the treasury The
money be expended getting the proposed irrigation sys
tens IN working order is to from the sale Of public
lands While the government may be called to stand
good for OF the funds which will necessary in be-
ginning the work these funds will has been already stat
cd eventually be returned in full The government is abso-
uey saeguarded against any loss, and with the amend
merits which have been added to the bill by the house
mce irrigation appears that all the benefits to be de-
rived will III the direction they goo the people
While as has been said before, many OF the republican
members OF the house think the bill should be sodly sup
ported by the administration they realize that their I'M
aided strength is not sufficient pass the measure Unless
there IS some very material change in the situation the bill
wall pass but its will be made possible by democratic
Nctts and the people OF the arid regions OF the West ard
Southwest in giving credit in the premises should not lose
sight OF this fact We're not Of the democrats in favor
OF the measure it would undoubtedly be defeated
While the question OF great anthracite coal STRIKE w
in progress generally discussed here no considerable
amount OF alarm about the possibility probability Of con,
famine is in evidence This fact due in large measure
to the confidence felt all the country in the future az
the Texas oil trade People realize that whereas wear or
two age coal famine would have been very serious thin
such contingency at the present time need cause No ~
uneasness 1t is now possible send Texas fuel oil IN
over the wrod practically in competition with coal and Il
there were any signs OF material scarcity OF coal in m,
section as result of the strike it is quite reasonable TO sun
pose that the remedy would be found at hand
The papers IN this sccon-of the country contain almost d
reports OF fuel oil burners being installed and it would not
take long to make the the oil general thus nlaci
consumers IN position where they would be Indifferent as to
what the coal trust asking for It's product
he adoption OF Representative Coopers amendment 70
the naval appropriation bill mention which was made in
he Posts dispatches night ago is a particularly
sgnhcant feature when taken in connection with the