The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-09-10

TRUE HISTORY OF
IRRIGATION Law
1t is q Democratic Measure
Passed by Democratic
Votes oosevelt's
Inconsistency.

The democratic state convention OF
California adopted the following
plank in its platform:
"We heartily endorse the New
lands irrigation act for the reclama-
tion of arid land by government aid.
This measure was framed by dem
ocrat and became a law through the
energetic efforts of the democrats in
congress. Under, it's beneficient
effects California is destined to be-
come state of small but numerous
holdings. If enforced in the spirit
that animated the democrats, through
whose efforts it was passed, this act
will reclaim vast tracts of the state
for homeseelSrs and the resultant small
holdings will not nds lonly contrib
ute to the states domestic deyel-
opment, but likewise operate as a
beneficial preventative of land mo-
|nopoly I"
Whereupon the San Francisco
Chronicle denounces the democratic
convention for attempting to give
credit of THE beneficial act to the
democratic party and asserts that
1T was passed by republican congress.
and If party responsibility we're to
be claimed the credit could only 90
to that party which had the power to
enact legislation.
This would be SO, if as a matter of
fact, republican had framed the
measure, and if it had been passed bv
republican votes. AS matter of
fact the measure was framed by
democrat, was endorsed by the demo-
cratic congressionalcomm and not
by the republican congressional com
mittee and was passed in the house Of
representatives by vote, the majority
OF which was democratic, and against
the strenuous opposition of the repub-
lican leaders. OF the vote against the
bill, three-fourths was republican and
one-fourth democratic.
The fact then remains that though
the republicans we're in power in the
house they did not pass the bill. but
the democratic party furnished it's ac
tive and vigorous supporters.
The Chronicle article also stated
that 'all the safeguards to the people
we're suggested by the president. par
tlcularly that which limits the water
to be supplied to any one to a quanti-
ty sufficient to irrigate 16O acres -
This is also untrue. The original /
Newlands bill, introduced January 26.
l9ol, many months before Mr.. Roose-
velt became president, povided that
no water right should be granted To
any landowner or occupant for an
amount exceeding so acres. This
was afterwards enlarged to 100 acres.
All the provisions of the bill which
guarded against land monopoly were
contained in the original bill by Mr..
Sewlands, before Mr.. Roosevelt be-
'ame president.
Then the Chronicle insists that
he measure only made Roadway when
orcibly brought 10 the front In Mr..
tooseyeIt's message TO congress-. On
he contrary, the fact IL that then
Ss~lands bill had been Thoroughly
ought out la the committees of the
"hn'" and OF the house at the short
"ssions Of The iiftg,sixth congress be.
ore mf, Roosevelt became president
- principles had been endorsed by
p' Western aenpt9rs aud representa-.
'for' hpd Senator iiepshoroueh had
sen requested 10 Introduce the Nan.
',''as p'li ~ the senate. Us prinei.
''sF Nrfe approved by Gus ao.pmittnsl
y ppllle ienqf ~ lhe senaso, hy tAs 4
"'N'"lA'ee op pniaie lands III the
pNsP' Rpq by fhe eommlties on aria i
'ta. ~ the house helose AZ noose 4
~ 'efAioe President Ia
go po' some va ~ pssspee l,e d
,Vs' 'oNtls1f paloifpoq 0n No sol HI
#H,NN ipNl' ihe session hslna 4 4
~ HN'N 'Nf hpl y Ref unlleuslly hi