The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-06-13
IRRIGATION BILL UP IN
THE HOUSE YESTERDA Y

| bill beth as feasible measure and a
constitutional provision. II the scheme
went into effect. he said. there would be
such clauior about the ears of the
Secretary of the Interior for the inaugu-
ration of improvements under the bill
that he would either have to yield or re-
sign.
was In favor of this bill. said Mr. Ray.
If it were true. he would not be In favor
of it -hen re came to understand it, He
might have been misled into expressing
an Endorsement of the scheme, but that
was very different from his official APP
prevail when the consequences of It's TN
constitutional features were pointed out
to him as they would be. Mr.. Ray said
he was n Republican. in favor of carry
ing out the principles and promises of
the party as declared in convention.
What did that declaration mean regard
ing irrigation? What all other such
declarations were to be construed to
mean. the greatest good to the greatest
number. Under the protection of the
flag and not in violation of the consti-
tuition of the United States. lApplause.l
Supporting the bill. Mr. Tongue rep.
Ore.) said the Congress had power
to pass the bill under the provision of
the Constitution giving it power 20 make
all needed rules and regulations respect
ing the public lands.
Powers of Congress.
On the same side of the question MIR.
Tirrell (Rep.. Mass.) argued that Con-
gross had plenary power to deal with
the public lands as a private owner had
under common law. and asserted that
surveys demonstrated that the Govern
ment would not be compelled to con-
denim single acre of private lands in
carrying the proposed works of irriga-
tion 20 completion. Mr.. ShallenbergeT
Dem. Neb.} closed the general debate
of the day in a strong speech in favor
of the irrigation project. This is en-
tirely an American project said Mr..
Shallcnbergor, land l congratulate Con-
gress and the country, that after leg
islating for months upon questions con-
corning Cuban5 and FilipiEos, all sorts
and kinds of peoples from Porto Rico
TO Timbuctoo, that at last We have be-
fore us a matter which comes right
home to the interests of the American
people thcmselves-a question which
means more to the progress and growth
of this country. to its commercial great
ness. and its material welfare, and to
prosperity. and its national glory than
all the other questions that we have had
before us in this Congress all summed
tc-erher.
The effect and value of development
of a nations resources By means CT irri-
CATION is perhaps better understood By
almost any of the older civilized ma
tons of Europe than by ourselves. Civ
ilization and irrigation were born to-
gether. In the arid regions surround
ing the Mediterranean Sea, and amid
the dry highlands of western Asia and
India. Because irrigation is the most
scientific form of agriculture. It re-
CURED a certain degree Of development
in civilization before man could apply |
1t &c nature. But in America our civili- |
zation Is not indigenous, but was trans |
planted from across the seas.
Carried 20 its complete reduction and |
logical conclusion by our forefathers this |
idea would have precluded the desirabili-
ty of any development or expansion of |
our domain west of the Allegheny Noun
tains. This policy is narrow and sordid,
and has nothing to commend in the past
experience of this country or any other
nation. How much more glorious and in
keeping with the experience of these
United States in the past is that principle
Of national political economy which
teaches that trade and commerce between
the different portions OF our great COM
mon country has been the chief factor lr
our continued advancement in l.tional
wealth and prosperity; that as one por-
ton OF our country develops its possibili-
ties OF wealth and commerce all other
sections of this great Republic grow with
Il. and as the sun and the stars have each
4 glory Of their own. so the different Sec
tons of our great commercial empire
produce those portions of our national
wealth which. all united into one great
-tream OF trade and commerce, have
made our wealth and prosperity the Won
Ter and the admiration of the world.
Need Not Fear Competition.
THE most sangune irrigationist can
never hope that by that means we can
ever raise a sufTiciency of the products
peculiar to that soil TO supply the home
demand alone. and they will always be
arge purchasers of the cheaply- grown
grains of the Mississippi Valley. The
development Of our agricultural resources
n those distant regions is not with any
object of finding markets for their sur
plus products in the Eastern States
We need it all there, where it shall be
grown to support our mining and mineral
Industries. our growing cities. and our
mighty herds of live stock
Instead of irriga ton bringing compe-
ition to you of the Mississippi Val
ey and eastward. it will take away from .
-ou the competition that has been tine
hardest for you to meet-that of the
heap but productive farms west of the
iissouri River. by furnishing the reo-
lie in those regions n new and better
market close at home.
Make our cheap lands high priced be-
ause of making Us a market farther .