The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-21

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now the law, and introduced II. Then
came a series of animated conferences,
extending over period of more than
month, between the western members OF
both houses who favored some irrigation
government policy. They ultimately
adopted the Hansbrough bill as the basis
Of their deliberations and, In the end, al
though differing widely as to methods,
adopted 1t and it was passed through the
senate. In the house the chief stumbling
block in the way was the speaker, who,
with the committee on rules, did not look
kindly upon the proposed legislation,> and
announced that it should not come up
with his approval. The house. by over
whelming voice, decided that the bill
should come UP, speaker or no speaker.
The leaders went down to defeat, and
day was fixed for the consideration and
vote.
In the irrigation states the irrigation
forces were early divided into two forces,
one wanting state supervision and control
of the reservoirs and bitches, and the
other standing for federal control The
latter side won. The former represented
the immense cattle ranges Of the west,
the latter the small homesteaders. 1t was
on this rock that the friends Of irriga-
tion almost permitted their ship to go to
pieces. Senator. Hansbrough stood with
the side which favored federal control.
His original bill contained this provision,
and caused the extended conferences be-
tween the irrigation members referred to
above.
Among those who favored state control
were the members from Wyoming, great
cattle grazing state. After their defeat
the cattle members tried to prevent the
passage Of an irrigation bill. Seeing ulti-
mately that the influence Of the president
In favor Of the Hansbrough Sbill was to
prevail, they fell into line. and during the
past month Of the legislative career of
the bill placed no obstacles in its way
president, Representative Mondell of
Wyoming went to the White House, and
asked the president for the pen with
which the official signature had been at
tached. 1t was given. Mr.. Mondell, how
ever. was almost as little entitled to that
pen as one Of the avowed opponents Of
the bill. But the gift of the pen was a
small matter, and Mr.. Mondell was per-
| m1tted to bear 1t away in triumph.
1t was the pressure from the White
House which brought victory in the house.
MesSrs. Cannon and Payne, for instance,
two of the sta1wart leaders ON the repub-
lican. side, the one the chairman Of the
great committee on appropriations, the
other of the great committee on ways and
cation. The president took them in hand,
and finally they yielded to him to the ex-
tent OF being willing to refrain from
speaking against the bill. They were
silent during the whole Of the debate, but
onsthe roll call on final passage voted in
the negative. Other influential repub-
lican members from the eastern states
were controlled in a similar way. Not all
| OF them could be thus controlled, however,
as the record of the debate will show, but
the presidential influence was great
enough to reach enough of them to insure
| favorable action.
Within week or two it is believed that
the president will know pretty we'll, what
his plans for the present season will be.
With $4,000,O0O in cash available for the
| commencement of active work, it can be
| understood that considerable preliminary
| progress can be made this year. 1t Is
| the presidents desire to make a start
at once, and he Is to consult with the
| secretary of the interior regarding ways
| and means Of going ahead. Before that,
| however, as already has been stated, he
will formulate general policy in con-
| junction with Senator Hansbrough, who
is probably the leading irrigation expert
! in the senate.
Incidentally, the president is pleased to
know that this new policy is to be put
into operation by the republican party. 1t
Will piODdpIy 1uIulSu eueCLlVe pOllLlCal
| capital for years in the irrigation states
many OF which went wrong during the free
| silver craze. ... e..
North Dakota will be largely benefited
| by the new law. Between the point in the
far western part of the state where the
| Yellowstone empties into the Missouri
| and the point east Of it where the Fort
| Berthold military reservation begins, there
| are numerous points where small reser-
voirs can be profitably built, for the irri-
cation Of small valleys on both sides o1
| the Missouri river. In the southwestern
section of the state, along the Little Mis-
souri,, another chain of small reservoirs
can be placed to advantage, for the irri
cation of land on which alfalfa and forage
| crops can be grown. &C. ~ p
i Il In western South Dakota q line Of i'm.
provement similar to that suggested abov,
for North Dakota, will be possible. The
chief trouble in the Dakotas will be, mo-
lack of land which needs irrigation, bu
lack of water. Save the Yellowstone ant
the Missouri, their rivers are small
Enough can be done, however, in botl
plains and increase their population ant
! wealth. -
Under the terms Of the new law, thu
money collected from the sales of public
lands within certain state are to be ex
pended, SO far as practicable, within tina
state. North Dakota, therefore, will de
rive a greater immediate benefit from tn,
law than any other state of the union
There is now in her reclamation fund
available for purposes Of irrigation, half
million dollars. No other state has s.
large a sum. Nevada, where irrigation
is probably most needed, has only $4,000
The receipts from the sale of public land
was greater in North Dakota last yea
than in any other state. 1t will be diff
!, cult for the secretary of the interior t
find opportunities to expend within tn
state all the money now available ther
for irrigation. works. OF course, thos
parts of the fund which are not used viii
be diverted into other states. - ~
WV. Jermane:
Everything You Want ~