Evening star., 1905-08-26
Shame on American Name.

Shame on American Name.
Doubtless Congress will consent to
amend the land laws by the repeal of those
employed now solely to increase the hold
ings of the dishonest man and to give rise
to such scandals as have lately thrown
shame upon the American name; but II the
future is to be judged by the past this
access of wisdom and of honesty will come
only when there is no longer any land left
that is desired by the lumber king or the
cattle baron. 1t is, therefore, of the most
moment that these lands, capable of recla-
nation, which 1t was not in the past to
their interest to acquire, and which are at
least partially and in a lame fashion safe
guarded by the law of 1902, should be pre-
pared a patrimony for the days when
the land hunger that is as old and as In
deStructible as man Shall find no food for
its reasonable satisfaction.
The report of the committee on reSOlu-
tionS was adopted. In substance, the more
important resolutions follow:
Indosement of statehood for the territory
of New Mexico and joint statehood for Ok
lahoma and Indian Territory. The con-
gresS believes that too much capital, public
and private, cannot be invested in the rec
lamation Of arid lands, and therefore, de-
clareS that government well private
enterprise should both be extended to the
utmost, and believes that government en-
terprise should not necessarily interfere
with private enterprise, nor should private
enterprise unnecessarily interfere with or
prevent government enterprise from build
ing reservoirs and other works for reclaim
ing arid lands.
To Encourage Beet Industry.
In order to encourage beet sugar produc-
ton in the United States the congress as
serts its opposition to the granting of fur
ther concessions to tropical islands. The
resolution advocates federal legislation In
behalf of the industry. 1t is the opinion of
the congress that the national irrigation
law should be so extended as to include
the state of. Texas within it's provisions.
AS confusion is said to exist in the minds
of many people on the subject. the con-
gress declares that there is not. nor has
there been, any connection whatever be-
tween the national irrigation congress and
the National Irrigation Association. 1t
announces that no person or company is
authorized to collect money on behalf of
the congress.
The congress also favors the early recla-
nation of small tracts of land. whenever
the cost per acre of reclamation does not
exceed the cost per acre of larger enter
prses of similar character.
The federal congress is urged to enact
such laws as will enable the national gov
ernment to exercise the right of eminent
domain when necessary to carry out the
purposes of the national irrigation law.
The congress indorses the effective and
business-like administration of the fores-
try bureau the efficiency of the work of the
reclamation service, but recommends that
the reclamation service and its representa-
tiveS cooperate with state officers in mat
ters affecting the states land interests.
The resolutions commend the work of the
experiment stations of the Department of
Agriculture and the United States weather
bureau for its assistance to the reclama ton
service.