The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-02-07


menace to any portion of this nation;
but the completion of these canals,
dams, and reservoirs shall be so timed
that every class and condition can,
when the last capstone Is set in it's
place, bid it hearty welcome. l
would wait till this work is needed TO
meet the food supply of larger gener-
alton, instead of asking rs, 900, 900 peo-
pie to perform a task that is not de-
manded by the needs of the present
age. Wait until hundred and fifty
millions of people of another genera
ton can join in the performance of
that work, and the cost of that burden
bear upon the shoulders of those who
shall receive the benefits.
Mr.. NEWLANDS. May I ask the
gentleman another question?
Mr.. SIBLEY. My friend, if you
want to ask question shall be very
glad to yield; but shall not agree to
yield to another speech.
Mr.. NEWLANDS. will ask SIM
pie question.
Mr.. SHELLEY. / will attempt to an
swer question.
Mr.. NEWLANDS. Do understand
the gentleman to say that it is pro-
posed in any irrigation scheme pre-
sented by the Western members that
the cost of these irrigation works in
the West shall be imposed upon the
General Treasury, or upon the general
taxpayers of the country Is that the
gentleman's position?
Mr.. SIBLEY That is a question
whose answer is involved in doubt. l
do not know what you now propose
or may propose in appropriating these
millions; but when you legislate to
give all the lands held by this great
United States Government for the ac-
complishment of this purpose, do not
know what difference it would make
whether you take $3.50, 100000 out of
the vaults of the Treasury or keep
$3.50, 100000 of money which might
arise from Government sale of land.
Mr.. NEWLANDS. Will the gentle
man permit me to state briefly what
the objects are?
Mr.. SIBLEY / would reply to my
IrIenu from Nevada that l have no
doubt in the wide latitude allowed in
the debate on this bill he will have
ample opportunity to express his views.
The gentleman has frequently spoken
on the subject of irrigation and made
most eloquent presentations of it's
merits. ! have always listened with
great pleasure to my friend from Ne
vada He has exhausted about the en-
tire stock of argument in favor of the
project, so far as his side is concerned,
on the floor of this House. am not
attempting on this occasion to make
much of an argument; but as the COM
mittee are considering a measure for
the irrigation of arid lands and pro-
pose to submit it to this body, I desire
to advance my reasons in opposition
to that scheme.
Mr.. NEWLANDS. Mr.. Chairman,
the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr..
Sibley has sounded "a note of warn
ing' regarding the demand of the West
that appropriate legislation should be
adopted by Congress promoting the
settlement of public lands in that re-
gion. Strange to say, the gentleman
sounded this note upon a bill provid-
ing for the urgent deficiencies of the
Government; bill which attests the
growing extravagancies of the Govern
ment; bill which provides a large APP
preparation fer permanent fortifica-
tions in the Philippine Islands; bill
supplementing appropriations involv-
ing expenditures of at least 500, 000,-
900 annually in the subjugation of those
islands and the maintenance there of
American supremacy; appropriations
which the gentleman supports as a
part of our external policy, policy
which, according to the recommends
tions of the Secretary of War, will IN
volve the expenditure of at least S.
100000 in the purchase of lands from
the religious orders and their distribu-
ton amongst the Philippine people,.
And upon this bill, attesting the lib
erality, the generosity, and the extrav-
agance of the country in other direc-
tions, and which contains not word
on the subject of Western irrigation,
the gentleman sounds, repeat, note
ofwarning, raises the cry of economy
in governmental expenditures, insists
that our internal policy should be
cramped and contracted SO as to i'm
pair the development of the West,
whose competition he fears in the rails
ing of farm products, and with vivid
imagination he pictures a Western
raid upon the National Treasury and
the uentimposition of additional
burdens upon the taxpavers of tho