The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-03
GOSSIP AT CAPITAL
How Congressman Reeder
Was Outraged"
ON IRRIGATION MEASURE
Chairman of Committee Con-
spired to Beat Him

changed a bill in which he was vitality in
terested from one committee to another.
His proposition, built up TO most carefully,
and apparently about TO be crowned with
success, was toppled over in few mo-
ments. The work of constructing his plans
must now be begun anew. and in the bus
tie and hurry incident 10 early adjourn
ment, may fail completely OF reaching
the former pinnacle where victory was in
sight.
The hero of this tale-the baffled knight
is William Augustus Reeder representa-
tive in congress from the Sixth Kansas
district. The subject of course Is irriga-
ton, for this has occupied the time OF
Mr.. Reeder since his advent in congress.
almost TO the exclusion OF everything else.
The villains who undid Mr.. Reeder and
toppled over his structure so carefully
erected are Frank ". Mondell OF Mon
tana and John T. Lacy OF Iowa, MEM
bers of the house of representatives The
former is chairman of the house commit
tee on irrigation; the latter chairman Of
public lands.
When Mr.. Reeder was nominated for
congress in 1898 and was making his first
campaign. a Sixth district man said one
night TO a crowd about him in the Cope
land lobby at Topeka: Mark carefully
my wOrds-in less time than will occupy
one-half Reeder's first session. he viii be
in irrigation work up to his neck" Time
has proved the Sixth district mans state
ment. Mr. Reeder demanded a place on
the irrigation committee on the organixa-
ton of his first congress, and he has
steadily grown on II until he is now rank
ing member, or next to the chairman. In
season and out Of season, Mr. Reeder
has talked and studied irrigation. He
combines to a nicely the practical knowl-
edge of this comprehensive subject. and
the chimerical propositions all enthusiasts
get into when pursuing a subject with an
eve single to the chase, and that chase
alone He is worse on irrigation than
Rodey of New Mexico is on statehood.
They say that Rodey will meet a man In
n restaurant, on the street. at the capitol,
in a hotel corridor. or at a Presidents
reception. and insIue exactly three min
utes will be trying to convert him TO
statehood So It is with Reeder He new
er seeks the acquaintance of a man save
TO bring him around 70 do something
for irrigation. He has men come to his
house at night. and they tinker with
maps. figures, specifications and musty
reports until the head is dizzy and the
brain tagged. He takes the pet theory
to bed with him. and fondles ii the last
thing before he sleeps. He has II beside
him when he acts, and spends his time
when there is nothing exciting in the
house. up in his committeeman getting
new ideas on the pet subject.
But TO the story: Mr. Feeder introduced
a bill in the house on March Il to amend
the irrigation. or reclamation act 10 d.
verts into a reclamation fund the moneys
derived from the sale Of public lands.
The government Is 10 build reservoirs and
make irrigation experiments, and people
are to buy land and rent water pr.vi-
Ieces from the government. Mr.. Reeder
bill provided that an act Of congress pro-
viding for the sale Of timber lands in
California. oregon. Nevada and Washing
ton be repealed: that the act wherein en-
try could be made on lands valuable only
for the building stone upon them should
be repealed: that what ~ known as the
desert land act should be repealed; and
that the act which provides for the dom
mutation. or outright purchase at a low
price per acre for lands after only II
months residence should be repealed.
Another section of Mr. Reeder's bin pro-
vided that the secretary Of agriculture
should have charge Of all such lands
covered blythe provisions Of his bin. The
object Of the bill was TO do away with
acts Of congress which permitted the sale
al from S.25 10 $3.50 per acre OF valuable
timber and stone lands, and instead have
the department OF agriculture carefully
build up the timber thereon. and then
have the lands sold az normal value. say
from So to so per acre. the proceeds, Of
course. To go into the irrigation or re-
clamation fund.
Mr. Reeder had carefully taken 2 pon
Of the irrigation committee. ard while
the chairman Alr. Mondeil was against
him. he believed that the majority % the
committee was favorable n his pr1posi-
ton he had the bn referred. there
fore. u the irrigation Committee and con-
fdent ~ his plans winning he went away
down the Potomac river ore LAY. with
partv q feIow-represent lives. on pleas
ure bent
Now Mr. MoudeIl and Mr. Lacy. chair
nan = public lands arc favorable TO the
reneal Of the timber and store acts. but
.hev were against the wholesale changes
proposed by Mr Reeder Especially we're
thew against the proposition 20 give over
control q these lands % the secretary OF
az-iculture For be 81 known that there
is jealousy existing between the general
land office AID the bureau II forestry 70
the department % agriculture. 50. Nr
llon6el ard Mr- Lacy, taxing advantage
of ~. EeeGer's absence had 4 change
q reference of the bill made and gent Il
% the committee on the public lands Safe
.ere. for public lands was aEainE; Hr
Reader 4 was conadently expected that
r.. hin would never see the Light Of cay
Mr. Reeser returned from his jaUnt
down the river he found what had been
6one The 1id-ruanaered sixth district
raore= sentative wss furious. lie sought "a
make a aery sreech IN the house. isiiing
las. what d. thought x ne way he hac
b,e- treated But when h sought tine
f-,-s TIRE renreseutstfre ST. charge q the
reading srrruprlatiau 81. ~ could not
Obtain ~ Mr Refer then sgslt ssyerai
save telling ia TIE cloakr7ora ard else
80 ~hs. BE- ihozEht q rs treatment
E-fasliv he wrath rneltsa away. and Re
u~F is hfuseif agslu-
% erp-s~ The reason-5ne rssson-=hy
49, ehs-ce - rsfeFsnce vas rrac. o. Mr..
E2es.ser-z hai Is that property IL he'e1zsa
q. 80 COMMITTEES On IRE ruhi5e izots-
pm, NJ aessa- seat - Ee-k 20 tx @
a hi that Would properly ro 70 ;hc ~
a..sou Committee. containing przctseaIly
r. earse p-oFisions. ie reaehed pr@c-
,,-.flv the sane results as n his former