davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18

The irrigation bill passed by the house
on Friday, and already passed by the senate.
is an attempt to solve what Secretary VIII
son has well called "our greatest domestic
problem"
This problem concerns the reclamation
OF the great arid and semi-arid region
which stretches from the Tooth meridian
Of longitude westward to the Sierra Nevada
and at its southwestern corner reaches
the Pacific ocean.
This region is by no means all desert,
though in Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona
and New Mexico 1t contains real deserts.
But Its rainfall as a whole Is far below
the average required by agriculture as car
ried on in the Mississippi valley and on the
Atlantic slope. Yet great areas OF its lands
are astonishingly fertile II only water can be
brought to them. And the water is there
to ~fertillze these lands. but so unequally
distributed that II goes largely to waste.
This region contains about 900, OO0, 900
acres OF the public domain. Much Of this
is rugged mountain. Some of 1t is ire
claimable desert. valuable only for its min
ersl deposits. But at least $4,000, 900 acres.
1t is believed, can be converted into farms
II the water supply be scientifically dis
tributed and economically used. Then
there are perhaps 100, 900. 900 acres Of graz
ing lands that will be useful IL water lie
brought near them.
Systematic Improvement Of these lands by
irrigation will provide homes for 20 900, 900
people, at the lowest estimate, and prob
ably for twice as many. Successful irriga-
tion farming both requires and attracts
close cultivation and a dense population.
This great Improvement OF the national
oman congress has decreed shall now
begin. That is the purpose of the law Just
enacted, and the method adopted lie both
simple and practicable. Hereafter all money
received from sales Of public lands in this
region will go into a special trust fund
for the building Of irrigation works.
The lands to be benefited by such works
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
T1HE-HuNoRED CUSTOM.

1t has beer the time-honored custom
for all parties to endorse capable and
faithful public officers for a second
term, but 1t has also been the time
honored custom to turn down public
officers who have made a discreditable
record or who have failed to carry out
the platform pledges of their respective
parties.
In 1875 a republican governor who
had used the pardoning power indis-
creetly and incurred popular displeas-
ure was not renominated for a second
term. He foresaw the coming storm
that was to break loose in the conven-
ton and prudently decided not to avail
himself of the time-honored custom.
In 1890 two republican state officers,
namely, the secretary of state and the
land commissioner, were unceremoni-
ously turned down for denomination by
the republican state convention in spite
Of time-honored custom because they
had failed to carry out the pledges made
by the party on the question of railway
regulation as members of the State
Board Of Transportation. Tom Ben
ton, the auditor, who was equally dere-
lict in his duty, came within a few
votes of being knocked out by the same
convention.
This was before the popular upheaval
that followed In the wake Of the prohibit
ton campaign and the populist uprising.
In 1888, only two years previously, Ben.
jamin Harrison carried Nebraska by
more than $4,000 majority, and the
party had no apprehension of disaster,
and yet the men of 1890 courageously
refused to commit the party to the en-
dorsement of candidates whose conduct
had created popular resentment and
had to be explained away.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18

squadron, will participate In a joint war
game on Long Island sound the last week
In August Tho object Of the mimic war Is
the defense Of the approaches to New
York from a supposed hostile feet IL
is the intention Of the army and navy Au-
thorities not 20 have the exercises begin
until farmers in those parts OF Connecticut.
LONG Island and Rhode Island where land
operations will occur have gathered their
crops. as Il will be necessary for the land
forces to cover considerable territory. and
take advantage Of the situation Of the coun-
try without reference to damage to private
property.
The naval program for the Long Island
sound exercises is being arranged by the
general or strategy board OF the navy, and
Colonel Wallace T. Randolph chief OF ar
tillery United states army. is In charge
Of the military end Of the war game.
The North Atlantic naval force will be
increased greatly and orders sent out by
the department contemplate having n num-
Der OF additional vessels placed In COM
mission by August /, so that they may be
able to participate In the Joint army and
navy war games to be played on and on
the shores Of Connecticut, Rhode Island
and Long Island.
The cruiser Montgomery is now ready,
having received an extensive overhauling
at the Brooklyn navy yard. Many other
cruisers and battleships are getting into
shape for the interesting event. Orders
have been issued also for placing in com
mission the entire torpedo boat fotilla, con-
sisting OF twelve destroyers and fifteen tor
pedo boats.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
THE HOUSE PHILIPPINE BILL.

The house Of representatives will sub
stitute the Philippine bill framed by its
committee on insular affairs for the bill
passed by the senate. There are i'm
portant differences between the two
measures.
The senate bill provides that when
ever the existing insurrection shall have
complete peace shall have been estab-
lished, the commission shall certify the
fact to the president. who shall Their in
stitute a census. After such a census
the commission shall report to the presi-
den whether or not all or certain of the
Philippine islands are capable, At and
ready for the establishment OF a perma-
nent popular representative govern
ment." Meanwhile, in the discretion Of
the commission, additional municipal and
provincial governments are to be estab-
lished with popular representative gov
eminent" so far and as rapidly as COM
munities in such divisions are capable,
fit and ready for the anne. Provision
is made for the appointment by the pres
ident, by and with the advice and con-
sent Of the senate, of a governor, vice
governor and other officials.
The house bill goes further. II pro-
vides that whenever instruction shall
have ceased and a condition of general
and complete peace shall have been es-
tablished and certified by the commits
sion, that body shall call a general cleo
ton for the choice OF delegates to a
popular assembly Of the people Of the
Philippine assembly. After such cleo
ton all the legislative power heretofore
conferred on the Philippine commission
shall be vested in a legislature consist
ing of two houses-the Philippine com
mission and the Philippine assembly.
There would thus be IN upper house
appointed by the president and a lower
house chosen by the natives. Provision
is OF course made as to the duties and
functions OF the assembly The house
bill is more liberal in this direction than
the senate measure, but whether better
results would come from 1t is a Ques.
ton.
Another important difference be,
tween the two bills is in the currency
provisions. The coinage clause of the
senate measure would p~erpetuate the
silver standard in the Philippines and
continue existing currency conditions
there. which are now causing no little
disturbance to the business Of the is
lands. The house bill. on the other
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18

The chapter OF irrigation history con.
tributed by an Omaha fiction artist TO
the Lincoln Journal credits George II.
Maxwell with the discovery of irrigation
from the time of Rameses to Roosevelt
and minutely describes all OF the insur-
mountable obstacles and jumping on
places which Mr.. Maxwell had to
encounter in securing the passage Of the
national irrigation act, 1t goes with
out saying that il was Maxwell that In
spired President Roosevelt with that
portion of his message relating to irri-
CATION. although Roosevelt possibly may
have had a slight smattering OF Sierra
Nevada and Arizona desert vocabulary
before he enlisted as a rough rider. 1t
viii also &c down into history that the
senators aud congressman who digested,
debated and engineered the irrigation
! scheme through congress were simply
jumping-jaeks carrying out the direc-
lions Of the irrepressible water-spouter
and rsserVOirist
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
Federal Irrigation Law
Chicago Inter Ocean.

hNNA CNthus
are to be assessed for their cost and sold in
parcels not exceeding 100 acres at the
prices so determined. The money received,
which may be paid In ten annual INSTALL
ments. goes into the trust fund. which Is
thus constantly replenished. These irriga-
tion works will be no burden on the public
treasury. They will be paid for by those
benefited. much as pavements and sewers
are paid for In Chicago.
As was imperative in a region where the
first necessity Of life is not land, but
water, the law DEGREES that the beneficial
use of water shall be the basis OF rights to
it. In other words, 1t will not be possible
hereafter for spectators to buy up vast
areas OF the public domain and wait for
the work Of others to make them valuable.
Irrigated or irrigable lands will be sold
only to those who will use them. As far
as possible the opportunity for men to profit
by the unearned increment Of their neigh
bors' toll has been cut of.
The law might have been improved by
denying its benefits to states which neg
lect to modify their land laws to conform
to the doctrine OF beneficial use Of water.
Only Wyoming. among the many states af-
fected, has a really scientific and equitable
irrigation code. The laws Of some OF the
other states are a positive impeachment to
home making and an encouragement to
speculation. 1t would seem advisable for
congress at the beginning to have insisted
upon the change Of such laws.
But with all its defects the irrigation act
Is a distinct step forward and a good be-
ginning. Its operations will necessarily be
slow. 1t may be half a century before
water is brought to all the irrigs BILE lands.
Bot the results will be Of ever INCREASING
benencence.
Irrigation Of these arid lands will not
only provide homes for millions, but will
largely protect the region eastward against
drouth. On the whole, the irrigation law
is likely to pass into history as the wisest
legislation OF the present congress.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
COAL BARONs' CINCH
How onsumer of Anthracite Wero
Squeezed Last winter.
Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune.
When the anthracite coal operators raised
the wages OF miners two years ago they
raised the price OF coal to consumers. Ac-
cording to Carroll d. Wright, commissioner
Of labor, the miners estimate Of their gain
last year by reason Of the wage increase Is
1000, 900. while the operators put the gain
at SEQ o 900. Probably II an average Is
struck and the gain called 81, ZOO, 900 the
figures will not be far out of the way.
The gain OF the operators due to the in
creased price OF coal is set down by Mr..
Wright at $40, 900, 900. II his data are trust
worthy the operators collected from the
consumers the IS, OO0. 900 of additional wages
for the miners and also collected from the
consumers a commission Of 100 per cent for
attending to the matter.
The commission was too large. II the
operators could not pay the advance out Of
their profts 1t was in accordance with
business rules to make the consumer foot
the bill II possible. 1t Is customary to
charge him a little more than the increase
in wages comes to, because wages are paid
before the product is marketed. There
would not have been much grumbling II the
operators had charged a small commission
for their services. They went too far when
they exacted 49, 00, 900 to pay them for
collecting from the consumers IS, 900, 900 and
distributing II among the miners.
The operators could not have done this
II they had not got rid OF competition by
combination. They have formed a trust,
and, as they control the limited supply Of
anthracite, they can make what prices they
please for their product as long as they
do not make prices so high as to drive
consumers to the use Of soft coal.
II the figures Of the commissioner OF
labor are correct the operators can raise
the miners wages 5 per cent and pay the
increase out Of the $4,000, 900 commission
collected from consumers. 1t will not be
necessary to raise the price OF coal.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18

hand, provides for putting the currency
in the Philippines on a gold basis and
thereby ~remedying the now trouble
some and disturbing conditions. Tn
doubtedly the house will firmly insist
upon this feature of its bill, whatever
concessions it may be induced to make
in regard to the Legislative provisions
and some others that differ from the
senate measure.
Consideration of this subject in the
house will occupy ten days and probably
the matter will be disposed Of by con
gress by the beginning of July.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
Strain of High Speed.
P%hiladelphia Record.

H~IIdUeIpIId INtOUIu'
The question has been raised whether,
II it should be practicable to attain to a
speed OF 100 miles or more an hour by
rail. the engineer could stand the strain.
1t has been affirmed by a physician that
such fearful going would wear out his
nerves in a little while. The question has
been answered already by one experienced
engineer before a meeting of scientists.
Asked as to the probable effects, In case
of a common accident, of a speed of more
than sixty miles an hour, he said: "a
smash-up at sixty miles would make splln-
tiers Of everything; at 100 miles the splinters
might be finer, but the destruction could
not be more complete" That is to say.
when an engineer runs his engine at sixty
miles he is under as severe a strain as
he would be at any other speed.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
AFTER A SUMMER SHOWER.
Norton.

hoAS" ANSA
The rain is o'er-how dense and bright
Yon pearly clouds reposing hel
Cloud above cloud, a glorious sight.
Contrasting with the dark blue sky!
In grateful silence earth receives
The general blessing; fresh and fair
Each flower expands Its little leaves,
AS glad the common JOY TO share.
The softened sunbeams pour around
A fairy light, uncertain, pale;
The wine flows cool; the scented ground
is breathing odors on the gale.
Mid yon rich clouds voluptuous pile.
Methinks some spirit of the air.
Might rest TO gaze below awhile,
Then turn 10 battle and revel there.
The sun breaks forth;-from OF the scene
It's floating veil of mist is flung;
And all the wilderness OF green
With trembling drops OF light Is hung.
Now gaze on nature-yet the same,
Glowing with life, by breeZes famed
LuXuriant, lovely. as she came,
Fresh in her youth from Gods own hand
Hear the rich music OF that voice,
Which sounds from all below, above;
She calls her children to rejoice,
And round them throws her arms OF love.
Drink In her inhuence-low-born care
And all the train of mean desire
Refuse TO breathe this holy air,
n in the iving light expire.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
"rHosE IGNORANT BoERs."
Shallow Uttered Against the
Burghers of south Africa.

Denver POST.
whenever a nation seeks to acquire the
territory Of an alien government It excuses
the act upon the ground that the people
whom It would subjugate and rob are wholly
unworthy and not capable of looking after
their own affairs.
Thus, when the South African company,
representing the British government, began
to feel that 1t should own and control abb
s~olutely the gold and diamond wealth Of the
Transvaal It discovered that the Beers we're
a savage and morally irresponsible people.
1t found them ignorant, dense of intellect
and totally incapable Of comprehending the
ethics of modern civilization.
Such was the justification for the South
African war.
Many things have since occurred to dem
o~nstrate the injustice OF these claims, but
II anything were lacking 1t might be found
in the farewell address Of the Boer leaders
at Vereeniging to the b%urghers in the field
which had Just been surrendered to an
overwhelming superior foe.
This, for instance:
Fellow brethren and countrymen, we
heartily thank you for your heroism, for
your sacrifice Of so much that was dear
and beloved by you, for your obedience and
for your faithful discharge OF duty, all OF
which serves the honor and glory of the
Afrikander people. We counsel you all to
acquiesce in this peace, to conduct your
selves quietly and peacefully and to obey
and respect the new government"
Who but savages could have expressed
such sentences as thosei
Who but morally irresponsible people
could have given such advice!
And then again:
Now there is peace, and, although not
the peace such as we longed for, yet let
US abide where God has led us. We can
with clear conscience declare that for two
and a half years our people carried on the
struggle in a manner almost unknown in
history. Let us now grasp each others
hands for another great struggle lies be-
fore us for the spiritual and social pros
perity and welfare Of our people. Casting
aside all feeling Of bitterness. let us learn
to forget and forgive so that the deep
wounds caused by this war may be healed"
Such i~gnorance! Such barrenness of the
nobler sentimentsl Such lack OF the higher
perception Of life's duties and obligations!
Such dearth of comprehension OF the de-
mands of the broader aims Of humanity!
No wonder the civilized world hangs its
head In contemplation Of II all.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
WHY THE WEST REJoICEs.
Irrigation of Arid Lands Under
Federal Supervision.

chicago lTlDune.
The states OF the far west, which have
within their limits vast areas of arid land,
are about to secure legislation which they
have been after for many years. The house
has passed the senate irrigation bill. The
president will sign 1t gladly, for the sub
ject is one which he has pressed upon the
consideration Of congress.
The bill is not open to some objections
which nave been urged against previous
propositions. II provides that the pro-
ceeds of the sales OF the public lands in
the arid regions shall be expended by the
secretary Of the interior In the construc-
tion Of storage and irrigation works. After
the secretary has become convinced that a
particular irrigation project is feasible he
will set aside the lands to be irrigated and
make arrangements with the settlers for
the payment OF their proportion Of the
cost of the construction Of the works.
The great objection raised to the recla-
nation of the arid lands by the govern
ment has been that II would be unjust to
eastern farmers-that they would be taxed
to make cultivable lands to be given away
and that the value OF their lands would be
reduced by adding to the supply Of tillable
lands. Under the present plan the govern
ment will get back all 1t eXpends on irri-
cation works and the exclamation OF arid
lands will 90 on so slowly that no effect
can be produced upon land values. The
ratio OF increase in the area OF tillable
LAM will not exceed one-tenth Of / per
cent annually, while population will in
crease twenty times as fast.
The states and territories In which the
arid lands lie naturally are most anxious
for their Improvement. 1t will add to
their population and wealth. The reclama-
tton Of the lands will also add 20 the
wealth OF the whole country. Not all the
arid lands can be made cultivable, for there
is not water enough, but homes can be
provided for tens Of thousands OF farmers
on lands which are now a worthless asset
Of the government.
II is not impossible hat when the plan
set forth in the irrigation bill is put to
the test defects will be discovered. II so
the work is TO be carried on so slowly that
the defects can be remedied before they
have serious eonseQusneeS
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
AN OVER WORKED MONARCH.

1t appears evident that King Edward
is over-working himself and that he may
be compelled to forego some of the coro-
nation functions in order to be in con-
dition for the final event. He is I'M
doubtedly, say the correspondents, one
of the hardest worked men in his realm,
with every hour of every day until the
more or less exacting. The king is
not in the best of health. He is not
as physically vigorous as he appears to
be, as his succumbing to the exposure
at Aldershot showed. AS everybody
knows he led, while Prince of Wales,
a pretty strenuous life of a kind that
does not conduce to the best physical
condition and the demand now being
made Upon his vital forces subject them
to a severe strain. 1t would not be
surprising If he should give out before
the day Of browning comes.
King Edward, however, by his faith
full efforts to fulfill his obligations, is
strengthening himself in the respect OF
his countrymen. The British people ad-
mire the pluck and persistence of their
sovereign in carrying out the elaborate
coronation program and there is no doubt
that he is stronger today in the popular
esteem than ever before. He Is also, by
his uniformly gracious course, commend
ing himself to the regard of the foreign
element in London, toward which he
has been most cordial and considerable.
One London correspondent remarked
that circumstances have made this the
hour when the English king, If he chose,
might make himself really a king with
less opposition than such an attempt
would have been sure of having for
many years. But Edward VII is doubt
less we'll satisfied with the p~rerogatives
he possesses and at any rate is not the
sort of man to attempt to enlarge his
powers.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
HIstory's Lesson Needed.
Boston TRANSCRIPT.

Boston Transcript.
The Boer leaders are taking a leaf from
the history Of the late southern confeder-
acy. Having surrendered on honorable
terms they mean to stay surrendered
They and their men, like the confederates.
will devote the same energy they displayed
In war to building UP their country. 1t Is
a country Of great possibilities which will
be developed to their utmost under the
sway of Great Britain and in that devel-
opment the Boer leaders, manfully accept
ing the situation, will be con%spicuously
useful,
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18

The Bee cheerfully records it's apology
to the railroad tax bureau, which doubt
less feels highly indignant over the as
sertiOn made by this paper that the
Union Pacific bridge, assessed at mileage
rate for 1902, would pay taxes in Doug
las county and Omaha on a valuation Of
$3.50. The correct figure for the
Union Pacific bridge assessment is six
teen-hundredths Of a mile at $4,000 per
mile, and the total assessment for city
taxation and county taxation alike will
be $1.56s instead Of $1,63O. In 1891 the
bridge was assessed at $3.50 0
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
Get I'D and Hustle.
Buffalo Express.

DUIIuIU INPEO9b'
Eastern farmers will look with envy
upon their western brethren. The owners
Of rocky, infertile New England farms will
have to go without help, although they
are entitled to 1t as fairly as the possess
ors OF arid lands in the west, but they are
not so fortunate in getting help from the
public treasury. They bear some proportion
of the cost OF this diversion Of public
land moneys, but they get no benent from
1t. A benevolent congress will give them
no help in making a livelihood from their
poor lands.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18

The expenditure for light and water
on the county poor farm for last year
was $2,6S5.56; the expenditure for milk
wa $123.9O. There must have peer a
good deal of water in that milk.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
what a Poem Would Have Done.
York Sun

1t is a pretty good joke on our rampant
anti-Boer friend. Mr.. Rudyard Kipling,
that the pro-Boer sympathies Of his aunt,
Lady Burne-Jones, should bring around her
house a crowd OF angry villagers. whom
the nephew had to charm from their rage
by a soothing speech. His %eloquence car
ried the day. but his aunt's offending flag,
with the inscription. You have killed, you
have conquered" had to come down. II
Mr.. Kipling has had the presence Of mind
to read Sir Lewis Morris peace poem to
the visitors, the flag might have stayed up,
for the mob would lave dropped dead be-
fore the end of the second stanza.