Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-13
HOPE FOR IRRIGATION BILL
Time for Debate Cut to Two Days, but
Friends of the Measure Are Hopeful.
r PITTED AGAINST CANNON
r. IL, pha, "ey of Iowa Pro-
poses hs:/ Bill for Leas-
ing e.. Land TO the
h Small Settlers.
CFrom a star Correspondent.)

WASHINGTON, June 12.-(Special Tele-
gram)-The friends Of national irrigation
who have been working for years to in
terest congress in the question OF the arid
lands Of the west today began to see light
ahead, when Representative Dalzell, from
the committee on rules of the house Of
representatives. reported q rule for consid-
GRAFTON Of the irrigation bill. Instead Of
three days being given to consideration Of
the measure, as the committee on rules
had originally agreed upon, but two days
are tc be given.
Representative Mondell Of Wyoming, who
has the measure in charge, agreed to take
the two days allotted by the committee
rather than have the debate broken into
by consideration Of other measures which
the committee has provided for. Accord
ing to the rule brought in today the house
will vote tomorrow afternoon upon the
measure and from the outlook tonight IL
seems safe to predict that the bill will
have a majority in its favor.
Mr.. Mondell opened the debate in favor
OF the bill in a very elaborate and we'll
considered speech. He traced the irriga-
tion movement from its genesis down to
the present time and said that the greatest
internal problem of our first century Of
national life was the bSinging into close
touch the tremendously extended and
largely undeveloped territory which was
acquired in our first century and said one
OF the greatest problems in the second CEN
tury OF our national life was the question
Of national irrigation and the redemption
Of the arid and semi-arid lands of the west
for the occupancy and use of home seekers
and home builders. Incident to his speech.
which was listened to with marked atten-
tion by the house, he said during the
course OF Its presentation that in the arid
region the government is the owner at this
time Of from so to 92 per cent of all the
lands and 1t is from the process Of sale Of
these lands that II is proposed by the bill
to provide for the reclamation of the irri-
gable portion thereof and the national
government as owner of the lands has a
source of revenue the states do not possess.
According to table which Mr. Mondell
submitted showing the receipts from the
sale Of public lands for the years 1ss9 1900
and 1901, sales in Nebraska were as fol-
lows:
Sales of Public Lands.
In 1899. S55,5s4; 1900, $s5, ,6ss; 1901, :1os,-
o4o. In South Dakota the sales were as
follows, according to years above given
$4,000, S15e.177, S113.475. Wyoming for the
same years showed the following receipts:
S7S,1S5, S16S,6s4. S2o6. 1853. The total re-
ceipts from the sixteen states and terri
tories included in the oill from che sale OF
public lands were in 1899 81 500, 900; for
1900. $500. 900, and for 1901, SO, 100, 900.
Later in the day Representative Shallen-
berger discussed the measure from the
standpoint of the homemaker and said it
was the greatest question agitating the
American mind today and meant more to
the development of the United States than
any question that can come before this
or subsequent congresses.
Representative Burkett will speak imme-
diately after congress convenes tomorrow
and 1t is expected the leaders having the
bill In charge will pit Mr.. Burkett against
Representative Cannon, who is understood
to be against the measure.
Representative Stark, who has taken
great interest in the land leasing question
and who held a long conference with Chair
man Lacey Of the public lands committee
today, stated that 1t was Major Lacey's
intention to deliver a speech on the bill
which he recently introduced granting
grazing privileges to homestead seekers
and holders OF small farms in the arid and
semi-arid regions. This bill is considered
by many to be the most comprehensive
measure that has been introduced in re-
gard to this very great question and seems
to meet with less opposition than any Of
the other bills. Mr.. Stark stated that the
Nebraska delegation. he believed, would
support the bill IL proviso was attached
to 1t reciting that the act shall not be en-
forced in any state or territory until its
legislature shall, by majority vote. author
lze the governor to certify TO the president
ig hat he ct he
within the borders OF said state or territory.
Mistaken in Their witness.
NJ. H. Evans of Des Moines, who was
subpoenaed by the democratic members OF
the Philippine committee of the senate TO
testify as to the conduct of American SOL
diers in the Philippines, left for his west
ern home today, having appeared before
the committee this morning. His testi-
mony was not of the character that the
democratic members of the committee par
tieularly relished and after a few ques-
tions they indicated that they were willing
to excuse him, but Senator Beveridge OF
the majority side OF the committee took
the witness in hand and elected much in
formation laudatory to the soldiers in the
Philippines as we'll as to the government
OF the islands.
the Grand Army OF the Republic OF Iowa,
and Captain H. NJ. Pickell OF Des Moines,
who have been in Washington for the last
day or two endeavoring to secure head
quarters for the Iowa Grand Army mem
bers attending the grand encampment, con-
cluded their mission today by engaging the
Hotel Batol, near Fifteenth street and New
York avenue, and considered by many as
one OF the finest locations In Washington.
Dr. Newman stated that he expected the
largest gathering Of Iowa men in Wash
ington ever in attendance upon q national
encampment from that state.
The senate committee on commerce today
reported favorably Representative Burkett's 3
bill authorizing the construction OF a pom
toon bridge across the Missouri river at
Plattsmouth.
Senator Dietrich stated today be had
received information from Superintendent
Machin OF the rural free delivery service
| of the establishment OF two rural routes
out of Henderson. effective September l.
Postal Matters.
Isaac HeIlekson has been appointed post
master at Presho, Liman county. s. D.,
vice E. X. Rise, removed.
Advertisements were sent out today for
bids for construction of the new public
building at Aberdeen 6 ID Bids will he