The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-02-15
CONTROVERSY OVER
IRRIGATION MEASURE.
Mr.. Newlands Debates the Bill
with Mr.. Sibley.


men Sibley and Newlsnds in the discus
sion in Committee OF the Whole in the
House January 81 OF the Newlands' Irri-
CATION bill, which came up under the con-
sideration Of the Urgent Deficiency bill.
1t is taken from the Congressional Record
OF the above date.
Mr.. Sibley, after vicious attack on
the general features OF the bill, said:
Hold these lands for the actual set
tiers, your children and mine. Hold them
for that generation whose trustees we are.
Hold them until quarter Of century
hence $4,000, 900 Of people shall share
the cost OF the work they then need,
rather than the 70 ,OO0, 900 shall be taxed
for work more wisely done twenty, thirty
or fifty years later.
Mr.. Newlands-Will the gentleman
permit an interruption?
Mr.. Sibley-I should prefer to close my
remarks.
Mr.. Newlands-Just question.
Mr.. Sibley-Yes.
Mr.. Newands--The gentleman is a
representative OF the great State OF Penn
sylvania, one OF the thirteen original
States. Those States at the very COM
mencement OF our government were IN
the possession of the Great Northw
Territory, out OF which five States were
carved / ask him what he would think
OF the wisdom OF that generation II the
people OF his State had insisted that the
public lands OF Ohio and the States OF
the Great Northwest Territory should
not be open to entry?
Later on the States having been in
creased to eighteen, we acquired vast
territory by the great Louisiana purchase.
ask the gentleman what he would think
OF the wisdom of that generation ii they
had refused TO allow the public lands OF
Iowa, OF Illinois. Of Missouri, OF Michigan,
OF Wisconsin, OF Minnesota, OF Nebraska,
Of Kansas. the Dakotas. and all the other
glorious States which have grown up ont
of that purchase to be opened up for set
tlement?
The gentleman speaks OF the coInpe-
tition that will now be involved in open
ing up the arid regions, where only sixty
or seventy-ive million acres OF land are
capable OF ultimate reclamation in a Pc
rod OF fifty years, and when our popula-
ton, already grown to 80 000,000 people,
is pressing the line OF settlement farther
and farther to the West. | ask him what
he would have thought OF the small popu-
lation Of the few Sts'es OF that period If,
pursuing the line OF selfish interest sug-
gested by the gentleman, they had de-
clined to open up to settlement the
millions and hundreds OF millions OF
acres in the West, now constituting the
most magnificent and prosperous States
in the Union?
Mr.. Sibley-Mr. Chairman, hardly
know how to attempt to answer the gen.
tleman who is so we'll and properly rec
ognized as the Chesterfield of this House.
because think he has made very good
speech from his side of the question, in
the propounding OF his interrogatory.
would wait until the digging OF these
bitches, the completion OF these reser-
voirs, and the erection of the last dam in
its place would come not as a menace to
any portion OF this nation; but the com
pletion OF these canals, dams, and reser-
voirs shall be SO timed that every class
and condition can, when the last capstone
is set in its place, bid it hearty well
come. l would wait till this work is
needed to meet the food supply of a
later generation, instead Of asking 75, ,000,-
900 people to perform task that is not
demanded by the needs of the present
age. Wait until a hundred and fifty
millions OF people OF another generation
can join in the performance OF that work
and the cost OF that burden bear upon
the shoulders OF those who shall receive
the benefits.
Mr.. Newlands-May ask the gentle
man another question?
MIR. Sibley-My friend, il you want tC
ask question | shall be very glad tc
yield; but shall not agree to yield tc
another speech.
MIR. Newlands-I will ask a simple
question.
Mr.. sibley-I will attempt to answer 9
question.
Mr.. Newlands-Do l understand the
gentleman to say that it is proposed il
any irrigation scheme presented by th'
Western members that the cost OF thes'
irrigation works in the West shall be i'm