The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1902-04-19
HOPE FOR IRRIGATION.
Prospects Are Good for Passage OF the Arid
Land Bill at This Session of Congress.

bill reported to the House last week by
Congressman Mondell, representing the
arid lands committee, marks the be-
ginning of a new epoch. In favor of
favorable to the reclamation of the
public lands by the government and
there is no longer any friction within
the irrigation camp.
The bill as originally drawn by the
special committee OF seventeen selected
by the Western representatives for that
purpose was an indefinite, loosely
worded measure which in truth did not
meet with the entire approval of any
one member of the committee which
ate and was there freely amended,
some of the worst features being elm
mated. AS amended the bill passed the
Senate and was sent to the House.
Meantime the House committee had re-
ported bill which was as bad as the
bill which originally appeared in the
Senate. This bill has now been with
drawn by the House committee and the
Senate bill with still further amend
ments has been substituted therefor
The amendments to the Senate bill are
favored by President Roosevelt and
the National Irrigation Association.
Numerous conferences have been held
at the White House and in the COM
mittee room with the result that a
measure has been evolved to which no
one interested in the subject finds Sc
rious objection.
The sole purpose of all the amend
ments proposed is to make the meas
ure law to encourage BODYBUILDING
in the arid land States. When the crit
ical point was reached in Congress in
the discussion of a possible irrigation
law resident Roosevelt sent for all the
members interested and told them
plainly and emphatically what his ideas
were upon the subject, showing a COM
prehension of the issue involved which
those with whom he met in
conference. His position was Identical
win that which has been assumed by
the National Irrigation Association.
There has been no serious objection
on the part of any member to the
amendments which are now presented
to Congress. There has been a differ
ence of opinion as to the necessity of
these amendments and further differ
ence of opinion as to the jurisdictions
which should be conferred, but all these
differences have been waived in the
general desire to see an irrigation law
upon the statute books at this session
Of Congress, and as the bill now stands
it's chances for final enactment are
most excellent; in fact, never in the
history of the movement has the cause
of national irrigation been SO near vic
tory.
1t is not intended to allow 1t to be-
come a party measure. In the Senate
the vote was practically unanimous in
favor of an irrigation bill. In the House
the bill is reported by q Republican,
Mr. Mondell. though it is regarded by
many as a Democratic measure, owing
to the fact that Mr.. Newlands is con-
sidered to be largely responsible for it's
authorship. 1t Is understood that a
large proportion of the Democrats in
the House will vote for the bill with
out question. Some Republican leaders
are opposed TO the principles involved,
but it is believed that enough Republi-
passage as purely non partisan meas
ure. members voting for or against II
according to their own convictions. 1t
is not believed that the Senate Will pre-
sent any serious objection in confer
ence to the wording of the bill as
amended by the House Tor II Is oniy IN
that shape that 1t stands any chance
OF becoming a law.
The crecll of bringing tiis blll to its
present shape and of considering it as
among the probable legislative features
of this Congress is due to the Western
members. who have given so much time