Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29
AT THE White HOUSE
A Conference on the Irriga-
tion Bill.
Observation-Disclosures.
rHEPRESIDENT0PPUSED
OF THE MEASURE he
DOES NOT APPROVE.
A Delegation Of Union Veterans Re.
ceived-Many Visitors Call Upon
the Chief Executive.

the House, providing for national aid for
irrigation. The President warmly approves
of Che general purposes of the bill, but
says frankly that he could not and would
not sign it without some changes being
made. He is especially opposed to that sec
tion of the bill providing for. state control
of the appropriation, distribution and use
of water from the irrigation canals. Sec
t1on of the bill contains the provision for
state or territorial control. The President
feels that federal control should govern en-
tirely. He believes that federal supervis-
ion will be essential not only to success but
to fair and impartial distribution, alto
gether removed from political or other con-
slderations. The other objections are minor
and would probably not stand in the way
of the Presidents approval.
Those present at the conference were
Senator Hansbrough, Representative Met
calf of California, Moody of Oregon and
Raeder of Kansas.
Senator Hansbrough explained to the
President that he had given long and care
ful study to the feature that is objection
able to the President. He was perfectly
willing that the section should be stricken
out either by the House or in conference.
He was satisfied, however, that it would
make no difference whether the provision
should be stricken out or not, as in several
Of the states local control would prevail by
reason of constitutional provisions. Con-
gress gave these constitutional provisions
to the states when they were admitted from
territories. Congress could not take out of
a state constitution what it put in there.
Therefore, In some of the states federal
control could not be arranged for by act
of Congress.
The President has not taken time to con-
slider this view of the case, but insists that
section shall come out. This will be
agreed to by the western members of Con-
gress.
iS ted tact
irrigation bill has to encounter is the op-
position of Speaker Henderson and the
House leaders. They are represented as
unfriendly to the bill. At least this is said
to be the attitude of Speaker Henderson.
The bill passed the Senate almost unani-
mously.
An Exception in Certain Cases.
The President had talk today with
delegation of the District G. A. r. and Gen.
R. G. Dyrenforth of the q. V. U. regarding
the application of recent order Of the
President. The following was submitted to
the President by Gen. Dyrenforth and B.
F. Bingham, commander of the Depart
ment Of the Potomac.
Mr. President: With regard to the exec
utive order forbidding all officers and en-
ployes Of the United States of every de-
scription, serving in under any Of the
executive departments, in Washington, or
elsewhere, either directly or indirectly, in
dividually or through associations, to in
fiuence. or attempt to influence, in their
own interest any legislation whatever,
save through the heads of their respective
departments, l respectfully request to be
advised whether such order is intended to
prohibit Union veterans of the war of the
rebellion who may be employed in the de-
partments from acting with any organi-
cation of veterans, such as the Union Vet
erans' Union, which l have the honor to
command, or the Grand Army Of the Re
public, or on committees of such organi-
cations. to secure desired legislation for
the benefit of the Union veterans Of the
war of the rebellion generally"
Gen. Dyrenforth told the President that
his order was SO sweeping that some of the
veterans who are in the departments and
are serving ON committees are apprehen-
sive that they might be violating an order
of the President.
President Roosevelt said that his order
would not cover case like that presented
to him. 1t would cover the cases of soldiers
and others advocating their own cases
The delegation that saw the President
was composed of r. G. Dyrenforth, 3. r.
Bingham, Judge Ivory G. Kimball ]. f.
Meacham, A c. Hawley and P. c. Balm.
Widows Also Have Preference.
Mr.. Hawley submitted to the President
an inquiry whether, under his recent order
giving preference to soldiers in the matter
of appointments, widows Of soldiers Of the
civil war are not entitled to the same pref
erence. The President said he thought
this ought to be so and said he would have
the order construed broadly.
The conference with the President was
satisfactory to the veterans.
Two designations Received.
c. II. Thompson, United States marshal
for Oklahoma, has resigned, to engage in
private business. Delegate Flynn of Ok
lahoma saw the President today about the
matter.
Joseph X. Wood. United States attorney
for the second division of Alaska, has also
resigned Wood is serving term in prison
for contempt in connection with the Judge
Noyes case. The department was about to
take action in his case when his resigaa-
tion was received.
Attorney General Knox was with the
President today in regard to some at
ters in his department.
Many Visitors Received.
The President today received several dele
cations of visitors who are in the city
Senator Pritchard presented a number Of
young lady students of a North Carolina
college. Several excursion parties likewise
shook hands. Representative William AL
den Smith has arranged for the President
to meet 250 school teachers of Grand Rap-
ids, Mich, on Monday.
The President Is not holding public re-
ceptions at 1870 o'clock each day as indi-
Gated in a newspaper story. but he is re-
ceiving parties and delegations which are
arranged for by senators and representa-
tives. There are no receptions outside of
these.
Minnesota's New Capital.
Senator Nelson OF Minnesota called on the
President, in company with Edgar Weaver
E. E. Corliss, John De Laittre, Charming
Seabury, George A. Dutoit and Frank Han
son, members of the commission that is
erecting the new state house for Minnesota
at st. Paul. The new building is nearing
completion. The interior work Is yet to be
done. and the members of the commission
have come east to study the interior OF
swell-known buildings. They are looking
public buildings. The new capitolscf Min
nesota is to cost about $1,000 900. and an