The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-07-12

ern members OF both houses who
favored some irrigation govern
ment policy. They ultimately
adopted the Hansbrough bill a.
the basis Of their deliberations
and, in the end, although differing
widely as to methods, adopted it
and it was passed through the SEN
ate. In the house the chief stum-
bling block in the way was the
speaker, who, with the committee
on rules, did not LOOK kindly upon
the proposed legislation, and an
nounced that it should not come
up with his approval. The house,
by overwhelming voice, decided
that the bill should come up,
speaker or no speaker. The lead
ers went down to defeat, and a day
was fixed for the consideration and
vote.
In the irrigation states the irri-
cation forces were early divided
into two forces, one wanting state
supervision and control of the reser-
voirs and bitches, and the other
standing for federal control. The
latter won. The former repre-
sentel the immense cattle ranges
of the west, the latter the small
homesteaders. It was on this rock
that the friends of irrigation al
most permitted their ship to go to
pieces. Senator Hansbrough stood
with the side which favored federal
control. His original bill contain:
ed this provision, and caused the
extended conferences between the
irrigation members referred to
above.
| Among those who favored state
scontrol were the members from
Wyoming. a great cattle grazing
state. After their defeat, the cat
tie members tried to prevent the
passage of an irrigation bill. See
ing ultimately that the influence
of the president in favor Of the
Hansbrough bill wac to pre- ~
they fell into line, and during the
past month of the legislative career
of the bill placed no obstacles in
its way. After the bill Md been
signed by the president, Represen-
tative Monde1l of Wyoming went
to the White House, and asked
the president for the pen with
which the official signature had
been attached. It was given. Mr..
Mondell, however, was almost as
little entitled that pen as one of
the avowed opponents of the, bill.
But the gift of the pen was small
matter, and Mr.. Mondell was per-
mitted to bear it away in triumph.
It was the pressure from the
White House which brought VIC
tory in the house. Messrs Cannon
and Payne, for instance, two Of the
stalwart leaders on the republican
side, the one the chairman of the
great committee on appropriations,
the other of the great committee
on ways and means, were steadfast-
ly opposed to irrigation. The
president took them in hand, and
finally they yielded to him to the
extent of being willing to refrain
from speaking against tie bill.
They were silent during the whole
Of the debate, but on the roll call
on final passage voted in the mega
tive. Other influential republican
members from the eastern states
we're controlled in a similar way.
Not all Of them could be thus con-
trolled however, as the record Of
the debate will show, hut the pres
| idential influence wa, great enough
to reach enough of them to insure
favorable action. 5
Within q week or two it is b.
|lieved that the president will know
what his plans for the pres
ent season will. be. With $1,000
0OO in cash available for the conn
mencement Of active work, it can
be understood that considerable
preliminary progress can be made
this year. It is the presidents de-
sire to make q start at once, and
Ihe is to consult with the secretary