The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-12-19

have Carey Act proposition on
the Payette river. They are now
engaged in constructing a canal;
the land under the canal consists of
some 10000 acres, and the applica.
ton for permission to appropriate
water from the Payette river, made
Tor the benefit of. the people, by
Lowell, steunenberg and others,
covers the land which Mr.. Pence
designs to irrigate from his canal.
1t SO happens that of the land, Mr..
Pence proposes to irrigate, only
about 5000 acres are subject to the
operations of the Carey law, the
rest belonging to the State and pri-
vate individuals. Mr.. Pence, there
fore, has been counting on supply
ing water under private contract to
about $1,000 acres of this land.
Hence, the inclusion of this land
in the movement for Government
aid, seriously interferes with Mr..
Pence's calculations, because people
may hesitate to enter into contract
with Mr.. Pence while the hope of
Government aid is made to glow in
their breasts. 1t is quite clear that
Government all in that particular
locality is inimicable to the private
interests of Mr.. Pence and his asso-
ciates, known collectively as the
Canyon County Canal Company.
So, through Mr.. Niday, they in
ljected into the petition for aid an
amendment to the effect that private
interests must not be disturbed. In
order that the purpose of the amend
ment might not be too apparent and
point only to Mr.. Pence's private
interests, "prior rights" were also
included.
It does seem to the writer that
where, in consequence of conflict
growing out of private interests
Government is prevented from aid
ing, Petition for aid stipulating
that those interests must not be
disturbed, is rather an absurdlty
We wish to make this clear. l
was repeatedly indicated by the
speakers on behalf of Government
aid, that the Boise Valley projec
was handicapped by conflicting IL
terests, and that Government coulC
not move until the people paved tn
:, way. Now, if that kind of tall
meant anything on earth, it mean
that the people must indicate posi-
lively that they were prepared t
subordinate their individual interest
TO the general interest. In othe
. words, as indicated by Mr.. Lowell
petition form, the people mus
pledge themselves to agree to Wha'
- ever conditions Government m1gt
:. - find it necessary to impose in orde
that its operations should not b
hampered by private interests
- Mr.. Pence was inclined to be e1
ceptionally bitter in his criticism I
. Ex-Governor Steunenberg an
darkly hinted at graft. Indeed,
number of people suspected graf
=, but none were able to locate
Right here is where the moderated
- honest and strictly impartial con
- mentator finds perplexity. II
- give heed to every bruited suspl
~ ion, his faith in humanity IS SOC
rs utterly destroyed. If on the otn
- hand, he be ingenuously trustt'
=, he becomes an easy mark, and
49,, soon led into all kinds ofsnares al
RI pitfalls.
II. The logic of the suspicious on
ed is, that the leaders Of this NOV
lat ment, which, ostensibly, is entire
Ib- in the general interest, have acqu
81 ed regulations as cold' calculat''
business men, entirely free tro
~ anv faint of sentimentallty; tn
in none ofthem was ever distinguish
M for philanthropic works; that no
,at of them was ever accused OF tryl
t1v to cultivate the habit OF doing 60
nd for goods sake; nor to any ON
ms knowledge, was either OF them eN
La+roved into an act OF pubic &c