Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-11
COMMERCIAL CLUB
IrrigHtiunists in Congress Reply that lts
Resolutions Are m-Advissd.
BILL FOR RELIEF or OMAHA BANK
senator Gamhle's Project 10 Invest
Funds for EIoux I~ndiaRs-Diet-
rich outsPoken AeatRss Cut in
Cuban sugar Duties.


lnhL UNAN w IEAEAANh u ~
settlement Of the arid public domain. and
in a measure antagoniEing the present irri-
cation bill, now pending in the house, is
coming in for considerable criticism from
members Of congress from the arid and
semi-arid states. Senator Dietrich today
said he regretted very much the action Of
the Commercial club and SAID that IL had
been deceived by some person or persons OF
else had failed to understand thoroughly
the provisions Of the present bill.
There Is absolutely nothing In the bill"
said he. ito prohibit the secretary Of the
interior from accepting the three projects
mentioned by the Commercial club IN its
resolutions. But had there been any bin
offered appropriRting money for any one or
al Of the three projects mentioned, tnclud-
ing the San Carlos dam. the bill could not
possibly have passed congress. II is there
fore much better in my mind to put the
matter in the way it is than simply TO call
down opposition and criticism that good
judgment commends as unnecessary.
There is absolutely nothing in the
BILL" said he, 'thst prevents the
Of the projects 10 which the Commercial
club calls attention, and the secretary Is
only limited by the amount Of money avail
GAAN AL Tx HAA R1EGn "a ~
reclamation. II the projects appeal to the
secretary Of the interior and he decides 10
inaugurate either one Of the three, or all
Of them, and is unable by reason Of lack Of
funds to carry the projects to a successful
conclusion, then specific bills can be intro
duced later to care for those projects.
other Activities.
at seems to me that instead of counter
acting the influence already at work in
favor Of this measure. as the Commercial
club is doing by its anthgonism, IT could
better afford to pay attention to one Of the
most important matters Aow before con
gress, and that is the defeat Of any legisls-
ton looking to the reduction in sugar duties
and I would respectfully suggest that the
Commercial club of Omaha turn its Rtten-
tion to this great subject. in which Ne
braHka is vitality interested, rather than
pour cold water upon q project that bids
fair to become a Law"
Several SENATOR and representatives from
the arid and semi-Rrid states who have
received copies of these resolutions have
objected TO presenting them in the form
Of q petition. Especially is this true OF
Representative MOndell, who today mailed
to J. z. UT, secretary OF the club, q letter
which critically analyses the resolutions
Of the Commercial club and intimates thai
IL the members Of the club will look behind
George E. MsKwell they win find severa.
railroads who are really responsible for tn,
opposition to the present irrigation bin II
his letter he says:
81 hope that your club Will see ut {,
reconsider the stand II has taken ant
which ] I'M constrained to believe wal
taken without careful investigation with
1 rapa ri IN fha hin unur kaFc-a ~. 49,.
For the first time In our history there Il
nope Of securing nome legislation, legisla
ton which will give US Immediately upol
its passage nearly s., OO0, 900 and to whicl
will be added yearly about 81, 1000, 600.
am aware that certain parties have BEEF
pestiferouBy active In urging the adoption
2 OF the resolutions presented by them L
your club. Whether they are Rctuated b
motives Of pure philanthropy j leave 10
you to decide.
E Hints at RAILROAD interference.
Study the railroad mar with a view G
Rscertaining the exact location OF the thre
( specific projects named in the inquiry a
y TO the principal source of income of thes
e promoters might somewhat illuminate tn
subject May not the opposition from tn
same source TO the bill now before cor
E gress, which so carefully safeguard
: against speculative entry. and whose pre-
visions in regard 10 water rights for DR.
q rRte lands are fatal to large corporate {
y individual land holdings. have relation I
the fact there are such holdings about Il
, three projects named. and in som otbs
4 portion of the west?"
In further discussing the clubs actin
he says: Am j to understood that "A
. Commercial club is averBe 10 the constru,
( tion Of these other enterprises, some
o the best of which are 80 situated that the
construction would be Of direct benefit
, Nebraska and the country reclaimed wouI
q lie in the territory directly tributary
the trade Of omHhaf An example Of the
Is the proposed diversion Of the Cunnisc
into the Uneompahgre river IN Colorad
the diversion Of which would cost the gor
ernment less than half the sum per nc,
= of the lands which could be irrigated ths
either Of the projects recommended by yol
y club.
i have ne doubt but Nebraska has ma
reservoir sites TO which the winter hos
streams could be led. TO be utilised in 4
! rtgation, and / know OF no reason VI
these projects should await the constru
. ton Of the projects you have mentions
which would aggregate a cost Of ov
ts.OOO.OO 0 even II appropriations direct fra
the national treasury could be obtained Z
- the work"
For Relief Of Omaha nank.
IN Senator Willard today introduced q bin I
ed the relief Of the Omaha National bank.
1919 the bank cAshed q United States I
ce dian voucher, drRWn In favor Of J. @. N
he Cram Tor supplies furnished. The cover
er msnt entry amounted 10 se26, the mon
sr. being paid 10 Mccain. II vent through I
p usual channels and was finally rejected
lis the accounting Ofheers OF the treasury,
he tbs ground that Mccain vas a dsfaulter
nd hts contract 20 an amount greater thE D I
at sum named In the voucher. Since II
nd TIM the Omaha National bank has ma
III f~ruitless efforts 70 secure reimburseme
'ps Mccain died insolvent and the only eOuI
os- was through special legislation, which Il
lt bill seeks 10 obtain.
Representative Bell Of ColuradO today
troduced q bill. which viii be Of special
tereEt 10 Ne5raskans who we're retained
Tor the service OF the United States, after I
ny, signing Of the treaty with Paris. II II /
iAl comes a law Il win mean the disburssm,
Rrs Of many thousand dollars to soldiers Of u