Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-10-08


r-s4..ssate,i heHeva thst "a t. responsible
s.s al good thing. Whers It eoula not
se successfully eontradlcted Within
2vea time. n aoulJ not hesitate %
ials the credit for the Deeaiogue. the
Chrssfisn era. the discovery Of America.
die Declaration or Independence. the ad-
,alnassratIons Of Washington and Ian
cola. ,hs construction 81 the Panana
caaai, OF. in fact. any old thing.
The Democratic press now has the
hassisbool ~ openly assert that The party
II sega;ion aud calamity IS responsible
10, tine National Irrigation Act. Ia
Keeping with the traditional revelations
II Is notorious "hindsiEht' Il hss dis
eossr-d that this same National irFisa-
s.oR Act Of President RSoseyeli's il cal
csia,ed 10 add new Industrial empire
TO tA- Urits-i State Il would fain give
this the me too accent, but il j. too
ate What are the recorded facts?
Let History speak.
1Nc Grss move on the part u the fed
ersl government 20 reclaim the arid West
tc-as as tar back a. issp. under Presi
aeA Harris0n'x Republican admiuisfra-
aos. when a bill was passed by Congress
sg;ksrizing an iuyesusati0H of this sub
iect vita n view Of aseertaining 20 what
extcrf the arid reziegs OF tb. United
states can be benefited by irrigation.
This bir appropriated $4,000 for topo-
graphical surveys for the fiscal year end
inE June 30. 1850 The money was %
be used under the direction Of Major
Powell. the then head Of the geological
~.rey.
Tse work was placed under the super
vision Of the Secretary ~ the Interior.
IL 4
his report a. esrly a. possible. Upon
his report and the recommendations OF
the Secretary Of the Interior. the Sio0.- |
900 was supplemented by a1 additional
spsroprstion Of $4,000 by the passa &c |
or al act for the farshrr inyes;ig cation /
Of th- arid regions. a committee OF |
Senators was appointed 20 visit the arid I
regioss OF the different Western States /
and territories during the summer OF |
ise. K compiegel is work % invest !
gas4sn snd made its report after having |
travelled i2,cco miles and having beea On !
the rosd hfty days.
Repubiieans Lead the way.
INe Republican national convention
held in Philadelphia in June. 1900. re- /
fesrs1 70 irrigation ia the national plat |
forfs as follows; "In farther pursuance |
" the constant policy af the Republican |
party to provide free homes on the pub |
lie domain We recommend adequate Ma
tioaal le.isiatlsa g. reclaim the arid /
lands of the United States preserving /
she eou<Fol OF the distribution Of water /
fs irrigation to the respective States /
sll4 terflterier" The Democrats. OF
osaHse. initiating ani following the lead
OF the Republican party 10 all matters
u progress, adopted 5bc following plank
~ their platform ct Kansas Cts in IBiy
1909. I'VE favor on Intelligent system
Of .nproving the arid llud ef the West,
storing the waters far the purpose of
irnsasion and the holding OF such lands
Tor actual settler"
Roosevelt Prime Mover.
In Ms message % she Fifty-seveath
oonTres- President Roosevelt clearly and
viS,orously urged the enactment Of legs
lstioa Ia aid OF Development by irrigation
Of che great arid portions OF our couu-
try. Encouraged by the Presidents
earrs est and vigorous recommendation.
the members OF both branches OF Goa
geess from the arid aud scmi-arid States
met in the early days Of the session. ap-
poistcd committee of one frum each OF
the said States and territories. with Sen
ator Warren Of Wyoming. Republican.
AZ chairman. for the purpose Of drafting
an irrigation measure
This committee lahored earnestly and
faithfully. aud finally presentcd 10 the
full representation from the West q bill
which was accepted by them. introduced
in the Senate by Senator Hansbroush.
. Rapublcan. and In the House by Rep
reseasative Newiands. which bill. with
subsequent amendments. was the foundo-
az fAR h. NJ tFrt
act
On May IA. 1902. 10 presenting the bill
% the House Congressman Newlauds re
fsrrcd to president; Roosevelt's message
"a irrigation and quoted the same In its
satirety. thus admitting that the Presi-
dents influence for the measure was the
strongest at that time.
President Alters Biii.
Thfs measure was known as the Hans
brouEh- -Newlands bill. and became the
basis upon which the committee work
was done. but as drafted ii never became
law. IL was discussed by seif-eOn-
sututed committee OF representatives,
from all the States concerned. which met
nearly every day during December and
su Dec. % agreed upon the form of the
revised ball. which. after still further
changes by the Senate committee. passed
the Senate without revision on March 2.
1902.
But In the form in which IL was rec
commended by the general committee OF
which Mr.. Newlands was secretary. and
in which ii passed the Senate. the bill
was unacceptabis to President Roosevelt
as afording spectators and large land
owners opportunity TO monopolize the
bensdfs Of the act. Mr.. Roosevelt there
fore sent for Senator Hansbrourh: and
Representatives MetcaIf. Moody and
'Reedsr. all Republicans. who would have
|eharRe Of the bill in the House. and warn
- tssn that unless changed In certain
reapeces be should " compelled to veto
3.
checknate the shsrka
- aunrS6r <.haneen that he reouired