Gilpin observer., 1904-03-17
--LATEST NEWS fROn WASHINGTON
Colorado Representative. Busy.

All the representatives from Colo
rado have been distinguishing them
selves Of late-Mr Shafroth, now an
"ex," in q rather spectacular way, and
the others in other ways. Mr.. Bon
ynge mas already made an excellen:
impression on his new colleagues; Mr..
Hogg has an invitation to speak at
public occasion in Boston, from tho
Boston Business Mems Club-a rare
honor for far westerner-and DIR.
Brooks has been hard at work, espe-
cially in committee.
It is a good illustration of the way
In which things are done in Congress.
and how much more Is accomplished
by hard work than by much talking on
the floor, to see how Mr.. Brooks has
gone after appropriations for his state.
AS he is congressman-at-large, the
whole state is his district. and he is
as keen for other portions OF the state
as for that In which his residence is.
Among the appropriations and provis-
ions made for the benefit Of this state
Is one for a new weather station at Du-
rango, another for Investigations to be
made at and near Fort Collins, others
for work of the forestry department in
the mountains and still others for irri-
cation work on the plains and in the
valleys. 1t is said that the main work
Of Mr.. Elwood Mead, the governments
irrigation expert. will be during the
coming season on the sub-surface wat
ers Of this state.
The item which illustrates the point
mentioned, however, is the approprio-
tion for experiments in the feeding and
breeding of cattle. which are to be car
ried out in the northern part Of the
state. By agreement, a special bill for
this purpose. calling for an appropria-
ton Of $50, 900, was introduced, first by
Mr.. Brooks in the House, and then by
Mr.. Teller in the Senate. This Brooks
Teller bill. however. was not destined
to be the finally successful measure.
Upon consultation with experts 1t was
thought much better on every account
to get an appropriation in the regular
agricultural bill, If that were possible,
than to get through special bill; for
the main reason that If in the regular
agricultural bill the appropriation
would be practically a continuous one
and become permanent.
No great difficulty was encountered "a
the Senate, and Mr.. Proctor, in charge
Of the agricultural bill there, readily
assented to an item for the purpose de-
sired, making 1t $4,000, SO that re-
duction might be made II necessary,
and still leave enough to carry out the
purpose successfully.
/. was in the House. and especially
in the agriculture committee. that the
opposition was met and that hard work
had to be done. Mr.. Wadsworth. the
head OF the committee. and in charge
of the bill, for some reason violently
opposed this item. and almost made a
| personal matter Of securing its rejec-
tion. He worked his hardest 10 defeat
1t, and Mr.. Brooks worked his hardest
to secure the retention of the item. 1t
was apparently an unequal contest, for
Mr.. Wadsworth Is an old member OF
the House and one Of the most popular
men in 1t. and deservedly SO; while Mr..
Brooks is a new member with all the
disadvantages which that fact implies
1t speaks well, both for the inherent
merits of the proposition. and for Mr..
Brooks industry and ability. that the
committee finally decided by a large
majority to put the item in. Probably
| $4,000 will be appropriated for the
purpose named-an amount which all
concerned agree will be sufdcient. the
only reason for putting the amount at
| $50. 900 In the Brooks-Teller bill having
been SO as to be able to come down
gracefully without really Gripping the
work proposed.
This illustration is given. not to dis
| tinguish Mr.. Brooks above his col
leagues-for either of them would have
worked as hard for the same If he had
been a member Of the committee on
agriculture-but to show that the Colo
rsdo representatives have caught on"
very quickly and are already beginning
to do things" None of them have
talked much yet; not that they can't,
for they can; and Mr.. Hog especially
Is likely to make them .sit up some
Of these days when the proper occasion
arrives: but just now they are busy,
and the nature of their work is such
that no mention OF it Is made In the
Congressional Record.