, 1902-05-24
BILL GETS A SHOW
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RULES De
CiOES TO PREMlT CONSIOeRA-
TON.
Long Continued Contest for irrigation
Abou to Terminate-Conditions
Seem Overwhelmingly In Favor of
Bill Semi-Arid States Delegates
are a Unit for the Measure.

Washington. May 2i.-The long-con-
tlnued contest for irrigation which the
arid and semi-arid states have been
making almost ever since they have
been "A part of the union seems about
to terminate. Thursday the committee
on rules of the house decided to per
nit the irrigation bill. which passed the
senate weeks ago. to be considered and
accordingly n rule will be brought in
allowing two days for general debate
II one for debate under the fiye-miu-
ute rule. TWO months & the action
taken today would have been absol
utely impossible, but the friends Of the
measure never lost heart and when the
conditions seemed darkest they re,
doubled their work for consideration
and the committee on rules finally CAPT
tulated.
But consideration does not mean pas
sage by any means, although conditions
today seem overwhelmingly in favor
of the bill. The leaders on the republi-
cancan side, with one or two eXcep-
tons. are against the bill. The repub-
lican members on the committee Of
rules are against the bill. but it is con
fidently believed that the house will
be in favor of he measure when the
vote is reported. A close and syste,
matte canvass of the members shows a
majority for the bill but there is a very
large non-committal vote which the ad-
~vocates of the bill hope to reach
reason they asked that three days be
allotted to general discussion. The
committee on rules, however, decided
that all could be said that need be said
in two days and they will so report,
allowing a day, however, for debate on
the amendments.
An analysis of the returns made by
the committee appointed to canvass
the house shows many interesting
phases. Nebraska, Colorado, Wyo-
ming and the rest of the arid and semi
81 ~ SS"t'S u q ~ lol thC III. III
Iowa three of the delegates are counted
for the measure-Hull. Smith and Hau-
gen-while Thomas is expected to vote
for the bill, but has not committed him
self. Kansas and Michigan are report
ed as solidly in favor of the bill. More
than half of the Ohio delegation will
be found ia the bills favor. while Hi
nois will come up with a good vote In
its favor. the democratic members
from that state being soldily for it.
Maine is for the bill. and Representa-
tive Littlefield will probably make a
speech in its favor. Massachusetts be-
lieves in its provisions and the major
ity of the members from the Old Bay
state will vote for it. Indiana will split
even, although there is hope that the
irrigationists will get a vote or two
from those at present non-commit-
tai. Most of the Minnesota delegation
are for the measure, but there are some
who are loud in their d%enunciation of
making the arid lands of the west cap
able of raising crops.
1t was suggested early in the consid-
GRAFTON of the bill that the farmers of
the east were against it, but it is now
thought that a change has been effect
ed and that they are for some reason
able irrigation that will be the means
of giving places and homes for their
sons. Representative Mondell of Wyo-
ming, who has made the subject of irri-
cation a study of years. will in all pro
liability open the debate for the bill.
and it is excepted the discussion will at
tract wide attention. in view of the
enormous possibilities which are pre-
scented.