The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-07-19
uELT'S ACT

Those who make the claim that the ma
sional irrigation law should be called the
Newlands act base their contention. APP
parentty. on the claim that Senator
Newlands of Nevada drew the bill, says
fundamental .misconception that lands
the contentious one In the ditch. For, at
the time of the introduction and passage
of the irrigation law, there was no Sen
ator Newlands of Nevada The fact that
the bill originated in a Republican SEN
ate and was passed in that body appar-
emily was the basis for this m~isconcep-
ton. 1t was known that the bin was a
senate measure. and 1t was known that
there is now a Senator Newlands of Ne
vada, and hence 1t was assumed that this
senator could be given the credit for the
measure. But it was a complete misft.
There was no Senator Newlands when
this bill passed the senate. :.
The bill for the reclamation of the arid
lands Is. s05D was introduced In the SEN
ate on January p. 1902, by Mr.. Hans
brough of North Dakota. 1t was prac-
ttcally the same bill that he had intro
duced in the prior congress. TIE bill was
referred to the committee on public lands.
On March / Mr.. Hansbrough reported
the bill from that committee, with a fa-
ter some explanations. 1t was passed by
the senate without objection or division.
The bill then went to the house. where
1t lay for a long time unnoticed. and
there was danger that 1t might go over
without action. The western members
were for 1t, of course. and Mr.. Newlands.
then a member of the house. was also
for it, along with the others; but he has
no more claim than a score of other
members to be the father of this bill
nor to give 1t his name. Finally, as the
dent Roosevelt interested himself in the
measure. He called prominent members
of the Observation-Disclosures confer
ence, and urged that prompt action be
taken for the passage of the bill. The bill
was accordingly taken up, amended ana
passed June IS. The senate on the next
day. June IA, concurred In the house
amendments, and the bill became a law
on June II by presidential approval.
SO we'll recognized was the fact that
the taking up and passage of this bill
President Roosevelt that every one will
easily recall the fact: and Representative
Jones Of Washington. while recognizing
thai the bill was a non-partisan meas
ure (all were willing to recognize this
fact at that time, the Democrats most OF
alb. directed especial attention to the
fact that 1t was IAN administration meas
ure." He said: while 1t Is true that
this is not a political subject or bill. II
Is, nevertheless. what may be called an
administrators measure. President Roose-
Welt. In his message to congress-, took
strong grounds In favor of national aid
for irrigation. He is the first president
who has urged the matter In a message
to congress. and this has been one of the
great factors in concentrating public
sentiment upon this subject. 1t gave a
wonderful impetus to the cause. His po-
sition is very pronounced. The subject
Is not referred to in his message in a
merely passing way. but is given much
prominence. and he discusses the matter
with clearness and force. such as has
not been surpassed by any one. Our ears
still ring with the arguments of the able
statesmen and leaders Of this house that