Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-03
HOPE FOR IRRIGATION
President Roosevelts Attitude Proves
Somewhat Misunderstood.
DIETRICH ENCOURAGED BY INTERVIEW
Believes Executive Will Sign Measure
Congress Passes,
OTHER WESTERNERS IN CONFERENCE
Changes in PhraseOlogy Not to Affect
THEIR wESTERNERS IN CONFERENCE
Changes in Phraseology Not to Affect
Aim of Measure.
SISSEToN TO BECOME STATE PROPERTY
Commissioner Jones Plans other In
nOvRtions for the FurthcrinE of
Indian Civilization In
the West.
CFrom a stan Correspondsrn

today with President Roosevelt in relation
to the irrigation measure now pending be-
fore congress. AS a result of the inter-
view Senator Dietrich said the presidents
position in relation to the irrigation bill
was greatly exaggerated that be did not
insist upon a change in the bill as indi-
Gated, and he said II any measure looking
to the reclamation OF lands in the west
was presented TO the president he believed
he would sign it,
81 am in great hopes that an irrigation
measure will be agreed upon, said Sen
ator Dietrich. Nebraska and the west
need irrigation. What we want is to bring
together the varied interests and unite
upon some measure that we can all sup
port. | had hoped that the measure passed
by the senate and now pending In the
house would be acceptable to all sections.
am still hopeful of good results. and my
talk with the president today leads me to
believe that some irrigation bill will pass
congress at this session, because feel sure
the president is with us in our night for
the right"
Conference on Irrigation.
President Roosevelt gave an hour or
more to the conference on the subject of
irrigation, and more particularly to the
details of the bill now pending in congress
providing for plan Of national irriga-
| tion.
| Congressman Mondell of Wyoming, who
has been one of the most active advocates
of an irrigation measure, called for the con-
| ference, there being with him Representa-
tives Tongue. Newlands. Terrell and suth-
erland of the irrigation committee Of the
house, together with George II. Maxwell
and Chief of Forestry Davidson Pinchol.
! The conference extended over a wide range
and was interesting in that the president
| outlined his position regarding the meas
ure that is before congress.
1. was ascertained that 1t will not be
| necessary to strike out the section OF the
bill having relation to the state and terri-
torial control OF the use and distribution
Of the water. 1t was agreed that the
phraseology of the section should be
changed but that it should not alter the
! purpose of the section.
Another matter for modification is that
portion Of the bill affecting the withdrawal
Of lands from entry 1t is desired that
bona ide settlers shall take the land under
! irrigation established by this bill rather
than throw the lands open to speculation,
and this feature will be closely looked after
by the members OF the committee having
the bill in charge.
Mr.. Mondell at the close OF his confer
ence with the president said:
Speaker Henderson has indicated that
this bill shall be given time in the house
for discussion. No date, however, has been
fixed. We are hopeful that an carly date
will be set, when we can discuss this most
vital question properly, and am convinced
that If we get this bill before the house its
justice will appeal to the body of which
am a member"
! Transfers SissetOn TO state.
Senator Kittredges bill, transferring the
old Fort Sisseton reservation to South Da-
kota and quitting the title the government
has in it, passed the senate today, as we'll
as the bill introduced by Senator Gamble,
providing for the relief of bona nde settlers
in the forest reserve.
The Indian appropriation bill which was
reported to the senate yesterday contains
an item setting apart $1,000 from the
trust fund Of the Omaha Indians carried by
the treasury for Improvement of their lands,
purchase Of stock etc. The bill also con-
talns an item Of $40 900 for the construction
and repair Of bridges in Thurston county.
This same item was covered in the bill
which passed congress last year. but Il
only provided for the repair of bridges, and
as no bridges were in existence. the money
still remains in the treasury for this
specific purpose.
w r. Akers was renominated today by
Senator Millard for receiver of the AM
Rnce land ONCE.
Beneht of the Rosebuds.
Another innovation in connection with
Commissioner Jones' plans for furthering
Indian civilization is about TO be lnauR-
urated
Authority has Just been given for the set
ting apart of S22.0 900 for the benefit OF the
Rosebuds of South Dakota representing
the amount heretofore spent in the pur-
chase Of rations for that tribe. Commits
sloner Jones regards the action Of the SEN
ate Indian committee in refusing authority
for the issuance OF ratons 10 the pupils in
the sectarian schools as an endorsement of
his general policy for the withdrawal OF
, rations to the Indian wards Of the govern
, ment. 1t is the intention Of Commissioner
Jones wherever possible to turn over 10
the Indians an amount representing the
value Of the rations formerly distributed
among them and disburse II for the various
forms OF labor on the reservation which the
Indians perform. This plan will be put into
effect hrst in the Dakotas and II II works
well there 1t will be extended TO other res
ervatiOns.
Representative shallenberger today intro
duced bills granting increased pensions to
/ Benjamin r. ocott. $780, Albert C. Dales.
$50. and Fergus p. Mcmillan. $50.
Department Notes.
Captain Benjamin B. Hyer, Thirteenth
cavalry, upon being relieved from hospital
treatment at Washington Barracks, will
. join his troop at Fort Mead. Contract
Surgeon Arthur c. Stokes, now At Omaha.
has been ordered 10 duty in the Philippines.
, The name Of the postofice at Mammoth
Hot Springs, WyO., has been changed 70
: Yellowstone Park. with Jennie II. Ash as
postmistress.
The civil service commission announced
I an examination 10 be held May is for q
cook in the Indian school at Omaha.