Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-07-29

as Ii WAS afterwards enacted into
law, except the ninth section, was
thoroughly discussed Ia all us pos.
sible bearings, and from all possible
viewpoints.
II must be stated here that for
many years previously, several 81 the
above mentioned gentlemen paftic.
uiarly Newlands, Hansbrough, Mon
dell, Dubois. Warren and s%hafroth.
had bills before congress in the lrri.
cation question, but nearly all OF
which differed radically, and none OF
which comprised The Idea of using The
money derived from the sale Of public
land al d fund % reclaim other
lands. but nearly all of which asked
for d direct appropriation from con
gress for that purpose, as Is the case
In hte river and harbor bill. This
committee. which so met In Senator
Warren office throughout the winter
of 1902, had I'LL of these bills be.
fore It, and an unlimited amount Of
literature, contributed by the geolog.
ical survey. and BY Ill sorts Of irri
CATION congresses, ASSOCIATIONS and
bodies throughout the nation These
bills and other information before
the committee were digested and dis.
cussed deliberately from night to
might BY the members Of congress
present. and subcommittee after sub
committee was sent ont and reported
later 10 the whole committee on al
phases Of the irrigation question.
i regret sincerely that | am unable
70 state from my recollection as to
what member 81 members OF this IN.
formal committee first suggested the
splendid idea Of using the money
arising from the sales OF public
lands. a. Il Is now being used. Who.
lever suggested II deserves The great
est credit. because the bill In any
other form could not have become a
law. For years previously the agi.
tation Of the irrigation question had
enRendered d fear In the minds OF
eastern and southern members Of
congTess that the effort would be but
an opening wedge for the west. which
they ~contended contributed but small
revenue 10 the nation, 70 get IN and
take from The national treasury year
~ an amount Of actual cash beside
which the enormous appropriation for
rivers and harhors would look small
AZ d consequence. tho opposition that
had developed against amy sort OF an
irrigation bill was intense. After the
idea OF using the money arising from
the sales or public lands was sug
gested. and after weeks % work. the
present bin was framed. Representa-.
tive Ncwlands OF Nevada. who Is a
very rich man. gave a dinner al the
New Willard hotel 70 all The members
Of this committee and others. inelud,
Ing many government officials, max
Ing In all a party q about $50 guests
At this dinner. which lasted until
a late hour. many speeches Were
made, and the foundation for the
passage of the bill. through the in
fluence OF members who heard such
speeches. and others, was largely in.
creased. or course, the palm for the
GROWING influence for the passage
OF the bill must he given tn Presi
dent Roosevelt. vecause his recon.
~mendation Of Il in his message 10
that congress had the greatest ef.
feet. wv
This informal committee had al
final meeting along IN the late spring
Of 1902, at which there was a very fun
attendance. and each member had
something To say In the way Of an
opinion as 70 the chances for passing
The hill. Many senators present gave
Il ms their unbiased view That the bill
could not pass the United States sen.
ate. Some hope was entertained be,
cause Of the fact that the irrigation.
lists had thus far IN the session pre-
vented The passage Of the river aud
harbor bill. md there had been no
river and harber bill In the previous
congress, Al senator Carter Of Mon
tana, With a view 20 giving the east
a lesson had talked continuously for
sixty hours ii the close n the fifty
slHth congress. when be was leaving
that body, and by that talk bio Killed.
an appropriation Of s]s0.0o1p0D fer
tcontinusd On PAGE 5)