The Saint Paul globe., 1903-09-19
IRRIGATIONISTS
FINISH BUSINESS
Congress Is Asked to SO Modi-
fy Land Laws as to Pre-
vent Speculation.

OGDEN, Utah, Sept 1S.-The elev-
enth national irrigation congress came
to an end late this afternoon 1t re-
elected Senator Clark, of Montana,
president, decided to hold the congress
Of 1904 in Ell Paso, and adopted a plat
form which requested congress to
make needed notifications of the ex-
listing land laws, in order that speeula-
ton and monopoly of public domain
be prevented. Over the adoption or re-
lection of the clauses of the majority
report requesting that congress repeal
the desert land act, the timber and
stone act and the commutation clause
OF the homestead act, occurred a de-
bate of four hours. Many delegates
left for their homes tonight. Several
hundred win go on an excursion to-
morrow through Cache valley, viewing
the state agricultural school at Logan
and the great irrigation works of the
Bear river valley.
On the suggestion of Chief Engineer
Newell and the government engineers,
only three of the addresses on the pro-
gramme were delivered, in order to
give more time for discussion on the
land laws question. All the other ad-
dresses and papers of the government
experts will be printed in the official
proceedings of the congress.
The following addresses were deliv-
cred: Forest and Water Supply" by
F. H. Newell, chief engineer, United
States government; Forestry" by
Clifford Finchot, chief forester United
States government; Forest Reserva-
tions in Utah." by A. F. Potter, govern
ment forestry expert.
The committee on permanent organ
iZation made it's report, recommending
the selection of officers as follows
President, w. A. Clark, Montana; first
vice president, L. w. Shurtliffe, Utah;
second vice president, w. G. Johnston,
Denver; third vice president, John
Hall, Texas; secretary, H. B. MaXson
Reno, New, and an executive commit
tee including Thomas Shaw, Minneso-
ia; F. B. Reed, Idaho; H. C. Wallace
Iowa; Herbert Strain, Montana; D. E
Willard, North Dakota; Wesley Stew
art, South Dakota; o. A Fletcher
Washington; Clarke Capen, Wisconsin
and Fennimore Chatterton, Wyoming
The report of the committee on reSo-
lutions and platform was presented
Majority and minority reports were
presented. The majority report urges
the immediate and absolute repeal OF
the desert land act the Communication
SAc1uoC VI IIIC lOiilSSlSdu ACT, the IlIIlDeT
and stone act, and the lien land pro-
vision of the forest reserve act, and the
purchase or condemnation of private
lands within forest reservations 1t
urges the extension of the forest re-
serve act and that the forest work be
concentrated in the hands of the bu-
reau of forestry.
The minority report struck out all
reference in the majority report to the
n Low, n onf
and the communication clause of the
homestead act.
Mr.. Shafroth opened the debate
against the repeal of the land law as
provided by the minority report, and
was followed by Attorney General Don
ovan, of Montana, in favor of the ma
jority report. Congressman Mondell of
Wyoming, followed in the negative, and
William E. Smith, of Los Angeles, in
the affirmative. John P. Irish, against
the report, and George H. Maxwell, of
Chicago, in it's favor, closed the formal
debate. Under the fiVe-minute rule, w.
T. Johnson, Of Colorado; G.. L. Miller,
of Kansas; Congressman French, of
Idaho, and former Senator Carey, of
Wyoming, spoke against the majority
report. D. Clark Capen, of Wisconsin;
Col. Graves, of Minnesota; Congress =
man Reeder, of Kansas, and Senator
Gibson, of Montana, spoke in its favor.
Congressman Needham, of California,
offered a substitute for both reports as
follows:
whereas, The timber and stone act,
desert land law and the Communication
close of the homestead act have in
many instances in their administration
been found to result in speculation and
in monopoly of the public domain to
the exclusion of actual home building,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That we request the con-
gress of the United States to make
such notifications in said laws as will
save the remaining public lands for
actual settlers who will found homes
and live upon said lands"
Amid much confusion the roll was
called and resulted in the adoption of
the Needham substitute by vote of
PIP to 148.
Mrs. Gilbert McCIurg, of Colorado
Springs, offered a resolution favoring
Indian corn as the national floral en-
blem of America. 1t was adopted. Ad-
journed.