The San Francisco call., 1903-09-18

n " National Irrigation Congress ia
voring the repeal or modification
4 of the existing land laws was
made evident to-day. The committee on
resolutions after practically an all-day
session found itself hopelessly divided on
two of three great questions before it.
the desert land act and the commutation
clause of the homestead act-and to-mor-
row majority and minority reports will
be presented on the action recommended
by the committee. The vote on these two
questions was IL for and against The
sentiment in favor of the repeal of the
timber and stone act, under which, the
opinion was expressed, great frauds were
being perpetrated against the Govern
ment. was almost unanimous. Nevertheless
on this, as well as on other recommenda-
uons, a sharp fight will be waged with
the outcome in doubt. The Idaho deIega-
tion held a caucus this afternoon and in
structed Congressman French to lead the
night against action in favor Of the re-
peal of the existing laws, and members
of other Northwestern delegations are
also preparing to oppose to the last any
such action. An attempt it is stated will
be made to bring the subject before the
congress the moment next years meeting
place, the vote on which will be taken
Immediately on reconvening tomorrow
morning, has been decided upon, and pro-
tracted debate is looked for before the
National Irrigation Congress takes its
stand as a body on the existing national
land laws.
EXPERTS FURNISH PAPERS.
The fight for the honor of entertaining
the National Irrigation Congress in 1904
has been quite bitter. Tonight the stu
alton seems to be Ell Paso against the
field, with the field of unknown strength.
Friends of the Texas city confidently
claim victory on the first ballot, assert
ing that more than 200 delegates have
pledged their support to Eel Paso
Late this afternoon, however. a move
ment started by members of the Oregon
delegation TO bring the congress to the
Northwest rapidly crystallized.
Practical illustrations Of what irriga-
ton will do for Western land and the best
methods of supplying the needed rnois-
ture to the arid stretches of the West. as
well as the theoretical science of irriga-
ton, were set before the delegates aft to-
days session. The morning session was
almost entirely devoted to the reading of
papers by Government experts in irriga
ton and forestry, headed by Secretary of
Agriculture James Wilson.
Almost the entire body of delegates
took carriages this afternoon for the
model farm of forty acres conducted bv
the State at the Deaf, Dumb and Blind
institution. The entire tract has been de-
voted to experiments in various methods
of Irrigation, and the delegates tramped
over the grounds, examining with much
interest the work done by the State
SENATOR NEWLANDS SPEAKS.
when the congress convened at 10
o'clock scarcely half the delegates were
in their seats, the fight for next years
convention and over the action to he
taken on the land laws proving of more
interest to a majority Senator Francis
G. Newlands of Nevada was the first
speaker he spoke on State Co-opera-
tion with National Irrigation"
Mr.. Newlands remarked that one of tho
difficulties in framing the national irri-
cation act was the unwillingness of GER
tain of the arid States which had already
placed their systems of irrigation under
the direction of State boards of control
and State engineers, to yield to any legis
lation which gave the Federal a1Ithori
ties any right TO interfere with State CON
troll He then described the working of the
Nevada laws, which secured the CO. op-
GRAFTON Of the irrigation system of the
State and which placed the streams in
entire control of the Government while
the work of construction was going on.
The State administration moves along the
nation, and so when the Government
turns control over to the State. as pro
vided in the irrigation act the State Bu
reau will be thoroughly organized. pos
sessed of all the data, information and
plans necessary to go on with the work
of administration, and even of construc
ton, If any is necessary.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson was
then introduced amid great outburst of
applause to speak on the work of the
Department of Agriculture regarding ir-
rigation.
Resolutions of Endorsement of Secretary
wilson's views on irrigation and thanks
for his address were unanimously
adopted.
OFFICERS ARE NOMINATED.
The committee on resolutions of the Ma
tional Irrigation Congress tomorrow will
recommend the election of the following
officers for the ensuing year: President.
w. A. Clark, Montana: first vice presi
dent, L. w. Shuttliff, Utah; second vice
president, w. c. Johnston, Denver, Colo:
third vice president, John Hail. Texas:
secretary, II. B. Maxson, Reno, New.
There was no opposition to the re-elec-