Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-14
IRRIGATION BILL PASSES
Result Marks the End of an Arduous and
Uphill Campaign.
LEADERS OF HOUSE ANTAGoNIzE /
Representative Burkett of First Ne
brnska District Makes Convince
ing speech for the
Measure.
tFrom a STAFF CorrespondentN

W NAOI1lNG1ONs June lo.-NOpbCldi l6le-
gram.)-The expected happened today when
the house passed the irrigation bill by a
comfortable majority. This result, which
is SO gratifying to the advocates of the
reclamation of the arid land regions Of
. west, is the elimination of one of the
>. remarkable contests in the present
III q congress. President Roosevelt's
Il; mn on for legislation looking to
IL m Of the arid land regions
gave ~ I an impetus early in the
session, was generally predicted at
the time thai the bill drafted by the friends
of irrigation would be one Of the first
placed upon the statute books. The bill
passed the senate without a roll call, and
then it was that the leaders of the house
decided to consign it to the graveyard of
legislative hopes. For time the prospect
looked dark, but a careful campaign was
made and the result Of it was the passage
of the bill today in the face of determined
opposition en- the part of potential leaders
Of the house.
Burkett Makes FOrceful Speech.
One Of the features of today's debate was
the forceful speech in behalf of the bill
by Congressman Burkett of Nebraska. Mr..
Burkett addressed himself principally to
the contention that the reclamation of the
arid regions would be seriously detrimental
to the farmers of the east. He asserted
that the increased cost of production in
reclaimed regions would obviate the pos
sibility of competition with the older Sec
tions of the country.
'In supporting this BILL" said Mr. Bur-
kett, II do it in behalf of thousands OF
homeless children in the United States, in
behalf of the toiling masses, who go home
at evening to a fireside that is not their
own. l speak in behalf of the wage Garner
that his opportunities may be multiplied
as new territory is opened up and new
industries established. l speak for the
manufacturer, ever alert for markets. I
speak for the farmer and the farmers son,
who, pinched and crowded in the old home
stead, are asking for an opportunity to
help build up another state as they have
their own. ! speak for the miner, who lives
in the mountains in his arduous and peril
Gus undertaking to replenish the treasury
OF the world, that he may be surrounded
by civilization and assured of the necessi-
ties of life"
Mr.. Burketts argument to the effect that
irrigation would not afford increased COM
petition for farmers of the east and middle
west made strong impression. He said
on this point: staple products In Penn
sylvania and Ohio that are produced at a
profit would be raised at loss on irri-
gated land. II irrigated lands are made
profitable something especially adapted to
those conditions must be raised. Every
ear of corn and every spear of oats that
will ever be planted on lands thus re-
claimed will be consumed in that region.
Aye, more than that, they will be con-
sumed on the very ground where they are
raised Nothing of the cereals will be
shipped out; on the other hand, much will
be shipped in. This means more people
in the irrigated regions and a larger mar
ket not only for farmers products, but
for everything that is produced by the
brain and muscle of man."
Making Wind Cave a Park.
Although there is no more prospect for
legislation on the subject at this session,
Representative Lacey of Iowa today intro
duced a bill setting aside as a national
park the famous Wind cave caverns In
Custer county, South Dakota. 1t gives au-
thorty over the proposed park to the sec
retary of the interior and contains pro-
visions protecting the rights Of settlers.
There is a prospect that the Wind cave
caverns may shortly be made part Of the
Black Hills forest reserve, and In this
manner practically made a national park
for the benefit of the people.
Representative Martin was In conference
with the Interior department officials to-
day in this connection. Mr.. Martin sug-
gested that the Wind caves be made a
part of the Black Hills reserve, and this
Idea was favorably received by the depart
ment officials. The matter will be pre-
sented to the president with view to
having him issue a proclamation on the
subject.
The Treasury department will soon au-
thorize advertisements calling for bids on
constructing public buildings and for ac-
quirement OF sites for the public buildings
recently provided for by congress for cities
in Nebraska, Iowa, Wyoming and South
Dakota.
DR.. H. H. Sumner of Waterloo, Ia, is
| visiting his son, Dell Sumner, who is chief
| page of the United States senate.
The South Dakota delegation today rec
commended the reappointment of Postmaster
Brosius at Vermilion, Clay County, S. D.
r. o. Adams of Grand Island, Neb', and
Clinton F. Smith of Madison, Neb', are
among the western visitors at the capital.