, 1902-05-19
ALMOST CERTAIN TO PASS.

TOT the future.
ALMOST CERTAIN TO PASS.
The Republicans Washington CORE
Mr.. J. A. Breckons, writes
that President Roosevelt is showing
lively interest in the status of the ir-
rigation bill which has passed the SEN
ate and has been reported to the house
with certain amendments. The presi.
dent has asked a number Of members
Of congress as to the prospects for the
early consideration of the measure ano
has indicated his earnest desire that
the bill should become a law at this
session of congress.
A thorough poll is being made of
the house by friends of this irrigation
measure and enough is known of the
results of this poll to warrant the
statement that there is a considerable
majority In favor of the bill. Speak.
er Henderson and the committee on
rules have agreed that the bill shall
be given full and fair consideration on
the floor of the house at this session
and it is thought that it may come up
for discussion on or about May 30th.
The bill as amended by the house COM
mittee is satisfactory to the president
and to all the irrigation forces and 1t
II taken for granted that II 1t passes
the house and goes to conference that
the senate will accept the house
amendments and enact the bill as
drawn by the house committee.
The situation In the house In regard
to this measure Ia peculiar and politics
are involved to a considerable extent.
Unfortunately for the cause of irriga-
ton nearly all Of the ~so-called leaders
On the republican side, men like Rep
resentatives Payne of New York, Gros-
venor, Dalxell and Cannon are oppos-
ed to the bill, while the rank and file
Of the house, both democrats and re-
publicans, 10 in favor of it. Some of
the republicans with a keen realiza-
ton Of the great importance of this
measure, a. it will affect the congress
sional campaign in many of the west
ern states. believe that their so-called
leaders have made a mistake in not
pushing this irrigation bill as a dis,
tinctly administration and republican
measure and ,enacting it as such.
These same men believe that the bill
will pass the house in spite of the op-
position of rome of the republican lead
ers and that the democrats will then
be able to claim credit for the enact
ment Of the law.
President Roosevelt does not con-
slider party lines Of any Importance in
securing what he believes to be much
needed legislation in this direction and
the democrats, aware Of the opposi-
ton of some Of the republicans. are
quietly preparing to take the credit
which the republicans who favor irri-
CATION think should belong to their
own party.
The poll of the house which has
been taken to ascertain the position
OF the different members toward this
bill shows that not more than twenty
or thirty Of the entire democratic side
are opposed to 1t and that the princi.
pal opposition lies with the republican
leaders. At the same time strong sup
port for the bill comes from republi,
q sources and with this support is
allied the entire approval of the presi
dent and his cabinet officers.
It was believed by those interested
in securing an irrigation law, which
would be entirely a home-makers' bill
that the measure as 1t passed the sen
ate contained several %loopholes
through which spectators could have
taken advantage Of what was intend
ed for the sole benefit of settlers. who
would reside upon their claims for five
years before expecting to secure title
The changes made by the house irriga
tinQ committee in the senate bill are
slight IN the matter Of wording but ex
traordinarily important in their effect
upon the meaning and intent of the
measure.
The bill as 1t Is now before the
house is, in brief, . e~Shomestead
law made applicable to the arid ands
It simply provides that the United
States government should create new
rivers, through the building OF reser
voirs and main line canals. and should
70 regulate the low of streams already
in existence that their contents would
be available for irrigation during q
season. Of drought
OnlyLthose r to be permitted to SO
cure land under this newly created
water supply who are in truth and in
intent homebuildefs and ~appropria-
tons o1 land r to be restricted to the
homestead law modified and severely
guarded in its purpose by the opera
tons Of this special act. These set
tiers N not only to reside upon their
land. but E to return to the govern
msat. in course Of time, by q series Of