The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-10
COMPLICATIONS MAY.
ARISE IN THE F.
COMMISSION
Appointment BY President to
Investigate Red River
Overflow.
BY Wire From e. c. snyder.


Washington, March 9.-The resolu-
ton introduced by Senator Hans
brough authorizing the president to
appoint commission to act with
commission from the dominion of Can
ada for the condition of the Red River
of the North, while 1t does not raise
new question, yet, before it becomes
law, is likely to encounter some COM
plications. In 1902 congress put
proviso into the river and harbor ap-
preparation bill authorizing the presi-
dent to invite the government of Great
Britain to join in the formation of an
international commission ito investi-
gate and report upon the condition and
uses of the waters adjacent to the
boundary lines between the United
States and Canada" 1t is contended
by some that this provision Is SO gen.
eral in its character that the interna-
tonal commission already created by
the river and harbor act can take
jurisdiction of the. question involving
the Red River of the North. The river
and harbor act provides that this in
fernational commission shall especially
consider all matters pertaining to the
waters of the lakes and rivers whose
natural outlet is by the River st. Law
renee to the Atlantic ocean," and it
further authorizes the payment of ex-
penses generally from moneys here
tofore appropriated "for the st. Marys
river at the. falls" In view of these
special provisions in the rivers and
harborsact. Senator Hansbrough con-
tends that while the international COM
mission might find authority in the
general provisions of the act to inves-
ugate the Red river, nevertheless he
thinks that when the act was passed
Its authors and advocates had in view
matters pertaining to lakes and rivers
along the boundry line east of Buffalo
rather than the consideration If
streams and lakes In the central west.
Furthermore, he is Of the opinion that
should the Red river question be re-
ferred to the international commission
1t would be several years before they
would reach it, SO he intends to insist
upon the consideration of his resolu-
tion offered yesterday and sent to the
committee on agriculture, and Is hope
full OF securing favorable consideration
at this session SO that the commission
created under it can take hold of the
matter at once and put in the summer
investigating the Red river and its
tributaries both in the United States
and in Manitoba. He thinks the sub
ject is sufficiently large to engage the
entire time of the commission and that
1t is sufficient Importance to require
early action.
The million dollar drainage bill in
troduced by the senator and which has
passed the senate, is now before the
committee on public lands of the
house. It was sent to that committee
on account Of the fact that it appro-
PIRATES the proceeds from the sale of
public lands. Congressman Gronna,
who is member of the committee on
public lands Of the house, is exerting
himself to secure favorable considera-
ton. He introduced the Hansbrough
bill in that body, after making a few
changes in it, and sent it to the COM
mittee on irrigation of the house, of
which Congressman Marshall is
member. When the bill reached the
committee on public lands of the
house, 1t was sent to the secretary Of
agriculture. The bill puts the work
of drainage under the secretary of ag-I
riculture for the reason that there Is
now In the agricultural department
very efficient drainage bureau, already
organized and ready for service. The
secretary reported favorably upon the
bill. The bill introduced by Mr.. Gron-
ma, which went to the irrigation COM
mittee, was sent to the secretary of the
interior. under whose Jurisdiction
falls the work of irrigation under the
reclamation act. No one anticipated
that the secretary Of the interior would
report favorably upon the bill for the
reason that the reclamation service
appears to be exceedingly jealous of
their powers and are opposed to put.
ting the drainage Of lands under the
secretary Of agriculture. Undoubted-
~, the bill sent to the secretary oflthe
interior was referred to the reclama-
ton ohlcials and their report against
It was not surprise to those who are
familiar with the conditions existing,
here. Senator Hansbrough 10 assist.
Ing Mr.. Gronna IN every way he can