Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-10-31

Warren Of Wyoming. a Republican,
as chairman, for the purpose Of draft
ing an irrigation measure.
This committee labored earnestly
and faithfully. and finally presented
to the full representation from the
West a bill which was accepted by
them. introduced in the Senate by
Senator Hansbrough. Republican.
and In the House OF Representatives
by Representative Newlands. was the
foundation for the present National
Irrigation act.
On May IA, 1902, In presenting the
bill to the House. Congressman New
lands referred to President RoOse-
velt's message on irrigation and quot
ed the same In It's entirety. thus ad-
mitting that the Presidents influence
for the measure was the strongest at
This measure was known as the
that time.
President Alters Bill.
ansbrough-Newlands bill, and be
came the basis upon which the COM
mittee work was done. but as drafted
1t never became a law. 1t was discuss
ed by a selfconstituted committee Of
representatives from all the states
concerned, which met nearly every
day during December and on Dec. 2s
agreed upon the form Of the revised
bill. which after sill further changes
by the Senate committee. passed the
Senate without revision on March 2.
1902.
But In the form in which It was rec
commended by the general committee
of which Mr.. Newlands was secretary,
and in which It passed the Senate,
the bill was unacceptable to Presi-
dent Roosevelt as affording specula-
tors and large land owners opportun-
ty to monopolize the benefits OF the
act Mr.. Roosevelt therefore sent for
Senator Hansbrough and Representa-
tlves Metcalf, Moody and Reeder, all
Republicans. who would have charge
Of the bill in the house. and warned
them that unless changed in certain
respects. he should be compelled to
veto It,
Checkmates the Sharks.
The sepcific changes that he re-
puired were. frst that the Secretary
of the Interior should be empowered
TO withdraw from entry all lands pro-
posed to he irrigated, instead of only
those required for reservoirs and
bitches as provided In the bill: that
no water should be sold or delivered
except to bona flde settlers. actually
living on the land to which the water
was aDplied-whlch was not in the
Newlands bill-and that the words:
but state and territory laws shall
govern and control the appropriation.
use and distribution Of the waters
rendered available under this act.
should be stricken out as virtually
subjecting the control of federal work
to state legislatures. some Of which
he doubtless believed. but did not say
so. to be unit to exercise such trust.
and as certainly exposing the settlers
to the dangers Of endless and ruin
Gus litigation. At the Presidents
express requirement the bill was
amended in these respects and be
came the law as It stands today.
OnpreCeoenteo fofCe.
There has been attempts for many
years to get the Government to go
into the irrigation business, but all
failed until President Roosevelt took
hold Of the project In his first an
nual message to congress In 1901 he
called attention to the necessity OF
rr, viding water 81 the a'i' lands
and said: 1.-THE object OF the govern
ment is to dispose OF the land to set
tiers who will build homes upon It.
To accomplish this object water must
be brought within their reach"
The national governments policy.
he pointed out, should be to aid irriea-
in the several states and territories
in such manner as will aid the peo-
ple In the local communities to help
themselves and as will stimulate need
ed reforms In the state laws and reg.
ulations governing irrigation. He like
wise reminded the Fast. which wac
asainst this policy at the time. that
the reclamation ard settlement of The
arid lands will enricn every portion
Of the country. Just AS the settlement
of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys
brought prosperity TO the Atlantic
states.
With his accustomed vigor and in
telligence President Roosevelt exert
ed influence In this direction on con-
gress, won the timid and the roscilat.
ing over to his side. and the national
irrigation law was enacted ON June Il,
1902. That law. be It remembered.
grew out OF his message Of 1901. was
enacted by a Republican congress.
ably coached. by Mr.. Roosevelt, The
measure became a law with his sig
nature.
The Republican national irrigation
act OF 1902. signed by President
Roosevelt. was a fitting and natural
supplement to the Republican free
homes law Of 1862, signed by Presi-
dent Lincoln.
To President Roosevelt. therefore,
and to him alone, is due the fact that
there was any national irrigation at
NIL In that congress. and that the law,
ms enacted, absolutely protects the
Door man and renders any large hold
ings OF national irrigated land impos-
sibe forever