The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-13
IRRIGATION BILL.
It is Taken Up in the House
Today.

Washington. June 13.-The house to-
day, Immediately after the approval OF
the journal, resolved itself into commit.
tee of the whole and resumed the con-
sideration of the irrigation bill. Gem
eral debate having closed yesterday the
bill was read for amendment under the
five-minute rule.
Mr.. Grosvenor 6O.) offered a substi-
tute for the provision in the first section
providing that no part of the proceeds
of the sale Of public lands under the
act of August Is. 1890, (f0r the endoW-
ment of agricultural colleges and me-
ehanical arts) should be set apart or di-
verified to the irrigation fund The pro-
viso for which the substitute is offered
provided that in case of a deficiency
from the sale of public lands for coll
lege purposes under the act of 1890, such
deficiency should be paid out Of the
treasury. Mr.. Gr0svenOr, speaking to
this amendment opposed the whole bill.
He declared that ii would make the
present railroad grants for times as vail
liable as al present and would SO change
conditions as to materially affect pres
ent farm land values.
He cited the case Of the growing Of
sugar beets All the evidence, he said,
was that sugar from beets could be pro-
duced a cent a pound cheaper in the
irrigated section Of the west than in the
east, or, he stated, that with extensive
competition in the west, beet sugar
growing could not be profitable east Of
the Mississippi river.
Mr. Burkett (Neb.) followed with a
vigorous speech in SUPPORT of the bill
IF the millions spent to prevent the over
flow Of the lower Mississippi he said
/ had been devoted to storing water al
the headwaters, danger from floods
! would have disappeared below and the
arid country above the headwater1
would be blooming like the rose.
/ RIVER AND HARBOR BILL SIGNED
| Washington, June 13.-The president
/ today signed the river and harbor bill.
IN THE SENATE
Washington, June 1s.-Soon after the
! senate convened today tie vote by
which the resolutions respecting the
! discharge of Miss Rebecca J. Taylor
from the war department was referred
| to the committee on civil service and
/ retrenchment at the instance of Mr..
Plat (Conn) was reconsidsred and the
resolution was made subject to the call
/ of Mr.. Carmack tTenn.).
A resolution was offered by MI. Mitch
ell (Ore) directing the committee on
! Pacific Islands and Porto Rico to in
/ q4ire into the general condition of Ha-
/ wall, the administration of affairs there,
! the quality condition and value of the
| public lands in Hawaii; the crown lands
/ and the title Of the former queen there
4 in; with power to sit during recess and
/ by subcommittee to visit the islands if
| necessary and to report at the beginning
! Of the next session.
Mr.. Hoar proposed an amendment to
/ the resolution providing that the com
mittes should inquire whether the ex-
] queen has any claim against the United
/ States; legal or equitable. by reason of
/ having parted hitherto with her title
Mr. Mitchell accepted the amendment
and the resolution was referred to the
committee on Pacific islands and Porto
Rico.
Mr. Allison Ia) reported the District
of Columbia appropriation bill and gar e
notice that he would call it up as soon
! as possible.
Mr. Tillman Is. c. presented some ad-
vantages of supplying metal mail boxes
for rural delivery and showed to the
| senate q sample box of sheet steel which
I could be purchased for % cents Boxes
now supplied by private individuals cost
| from s1.25 to SO each. Such a price, he
said, was a serious burden upon the
/ farmer. Already 81, 500 000 a year was
paid for rural delivery of mail and he
believed such rural delivery would ex-
pand until 1t exceeded the cost OF city
] mail delivery