The Imperial press., 1904-08-06
BARD oN RECLAMATION
Inc Senator Rcspoods to a Toast st
 the Union League Banquet

Land Reclamation, and speaks as iul. lows on the subject lately at the Union League banquet
 "The subject which is suggested by the toast. Reclamation ot Arid Lands, and to which am to respond, was prohablv chosen for me b,causc it has engaged much oi my attention, cspS'c- iallv duri le ilc last session ot Congress.
 The platforms of all the national lss- lii,cal rariies iu l9po declared in favor oi legislation io reclaim the ard lands of the United States. The representa-. ,ivcs in both houses oi the Fuy-scV- enih Congress from the arid ant semi. arid states and Territories were united in their efforts to secure a iultillmeni ot the pledges oi their parties.
 IL was fortunate Tor the cause that President Roosevelt was so we'll qual- fled bv his experiences in the West and his familiarity with it's needs io appre- ciate the importance Ia the whole copntrv oi the reclamation oi the arid lands. He was the first President io urge in message to Congress the en- actment oi legislation iu aid oi the de velopmeni of the arid portion of our country hy means uf national irrigation.
 President Ro.sscveli's first message to Congress served to concentrate public sentiment and gave an impetus io the cause. He devoted one eighth ot that important document Ia the subject. His message contained the germ of the law.
 Encouraged by the Presidents ear nest and vigorous recommendation, the Senators and Representatives from the
 rl tories soon began la work out the scheme for reclamation and irrigation. They organized a committee for the purpose oi drafting an irrigation bill; and after much discussion and many compromises they succeeded in formu lating bill.
 The bill thus framed was introduced simultaneously in the Senate by Sen Ator Hansdrough, Republican, and in the House by MT. NewlAnds, & Demo crAt. The bill which was enacted into the law was the senate bill. IL was passed by non n-pariisan vote Tn both branches of Congress and 1t should be remembered that the Congress was, al that time, R-pu blIcan, and that the measure was urgently recommended by & Republican President.
 ms haEI8l4t A4eAAsfh Rt AA8t AEAArAAAA&AA shows how shallow is ihe claim asserted in the Democratic platform that the Reclamation Act was great Demo cratic measure
 II is t0 be noted that this is the only declaration in the Democratic platform where the party lays claim to any achievnent whatever. All of its other affirmative declarations begin with "We believe" "We favor" "We demand. "We express our disapproyal." or "We denounce e"-But there Is no other de- claraiion in their platform that they have done anything.
 Irrigation is a dry subject. Though knowing that IL is the wish of many members Of this club that enter upon an explanation of the purposes and the scope of the Reclamation Act, ] do 90 with the consciousness that others seated al this board may desire lighter entertainment than my subject can afford
 But in the short time that l may reasonably occupy, II will be impossible 10 present more than the general fea- tures of the measnTe.
 The Reclamation Act AppropTiates and sets apart. as a special fund called the proclamation fund, ." all of the net proceeds of the sale and disposal of the public lands in the thirteen States and l.t, srtt