The daily sentinel., 1903-02-19
John c. Bell.

III lls tinplOy low ODtlsdnCe TO
this committee for out of it each year
comes the money that is to keep them
going. All appropriation bills start
from this committee. and John @.
Bell is one of the men who decide
what department or any branch OF
the government is good for and how
much money it ought to have to rul
it through the year. His nlace will
be eagerly seized by democrat from
some other state when he leaves II
and Colorado for a long time to come
will not have so active voice in the
most important legislative doings O.
congress.
For many years past Bell, in the
committee on appropriations. has
clamored hard for an increase of these
appropriations which directly or in
directly benefit Colorado.
POUNDING ON FACTS.
The geological survey is invariably
a department when it comes appropri-
alton time. in which the eastern
members can see nothing but beauty
and little of use. But Bell knows
full we'll what reduction of its funds
means to Colorado. He tells his fell
low members of the Investigations Of
the survey at Cripple Creek. where
very gulch. prospect hole and mine
is examined. plated and mapped.
where geologic conditions are exam
ined into and minute reports spread
before the mining men to save them
thousands in perhaps fruitless private
Investigations. He tells them of i'm
mense bodies of coal that are disclos I'd
to the populace through the energies
of the survey. and in the end. if he
does not talk an increase of appropri-
alton onto the bill he at least prevent
reduction. The Leadville fis
hatchery. the Indian schools. the Den
yer mint and the government build
ings have all heen taken under Bells
wing at different times during ses-
sion of congress and, being member
of the committee which ment ions
them in the bill in the first place. he
can much better champion their well
fare than plain member of the floor.
ho can do nothing but offer n
mendment. The West has Bell (,
thank this year for the Illustration of
IN attempt to pry into the arid lan1
exclamation fund for money to rent
buildings in Washington. buy libra
lies and support bureaus UnaideC
md alone he fought the proposition
before the committee and succeeded
in having the irrigation fund left in
tact to be expended in the actual
building of water systems.
John Bell was one of the first men,
oers of congress to draft an irrigation
i'll. Congre ,sman Newlands FRANKLY
idmits that he used Bell S bill pro-
siding for the construction by the
government of the Gunnison tunnel
project in making up the national ir-
igation bill for conrgess last year
Though Bell got little credit for prac-
tically Assem- mbling the bill. he swung
20 with the rest of the Westerners and
pushed the measure pase the speaker
and his opposing lieutenants to a sue
cessful passage.
WHAT BELL ACCOMPLISHED
Last year Bell got land for water
works for Colorado Springs. This
year he has secured the right for the
city of Montrose to file upon govern
nent land for the. same purpose. He
was succe ssful in throwing open the
whole Indian reservation i'll western
Colorado to home stead entry. His
principal work this year and closing
work in congress has been the estab-
lishment of a term of the United
States circuit and district court at
Montrose and th, aiding of the Colo
RADIO cooperative colony in Montrose
to procure patent on their lands in
Montezuma county. Private pension
bills have not been mentioned. and
score of other important deeds. both
of local and national interest. John
| @. Bell certainly leaves the house with
record which many Of his colleagues
can envy. He has served faithfully
| in five congresses.
DEATH OF AGED LADY