The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-24
BY w. w. Jermane, Colorado BUILDING,

"aSHinSSOn,, -. -.
Washington, Dec. PA revolution
in the administration of the reclama.
ton act will be brought about if a
proposition advanced by Senator Hale
Of Maine is adopted by congress. Dur.
creation of a reclamation bureau in
the interior department. early this
week the discussion got around to the
question of the salary to be paid the
chief officer, and the requirement of
the pending. bill that estimates. Of ex.
penditures should be submitted to CON
gress at the beginning of each session
thru the secretary Of the treasury
These estimates were to be merely fol-
the information of congress, and not
for it's action. 80.
Under the present law, money de.
rived from the sale Of lands in the ir-
rlgation states is put into a separate
fund in the treasury department, and
Is entirely under the control of the sec.
rotary Of the interior. He can appor-
tlon the amount to be expended on the
various Irrigation projects, can fix the
scale of salaries to be paid, and can
increase salaries of worthy employees
without asking the sanction, Of con
gress.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota first
called the attention of the senate tc
the matter which brought about the in
trod uction of Senator Hale s amend
ment: The debate en- the method OF
distributing the irrigation fund fol
lows:
Senator Nelson-Mr. President, I de-
sire to ask the senator from Montana
(Carter) a question.
Mr.. Carter-I yield to the senator
from Minnesota.
Mr.. Nelson-The question 7 wish tc
ask the senator from Montana is
whether under existing law the money
expended by the reclamation service is
provided for thru the appropriation OF
money IN an appropriation bill, or is
the money taken out of the reclama
ton fund generally, without any ap
preparation In an appropriation bill
MI. Carter-It is money for the con
duct OF the service, and every part OF
It is taken out Of the fund known as
the reclamation fund.-
Mr.. Nelson-Without its being spe
officially appropriately ,-
Mr.. Carter-Without being specific
ally appropriated by congress.
Suggests Appropriation Bar.
Mr.. Nelson-Then, I ask the senator
ought not section 4 Of the bill be
amended SO as to require that none OF
this fund shall be expended except thru
an appropriations If the director is
to send to the treasury department ar
estimate Of the work for each year
ought there not to be an 'appropria.
ton OF the money by congress to that
extent? What is the good of providing
Tor the sending Of estimates here un
less we follow it up with the reouire
ment that an appropriation shall he
made? Unless we do so, could not the
department go and expend without
limit each year what they saw fit to
expend? 2 w.. --.,- -. -
Mr. Carter-My impression is that
+ the statement is made to congress
as suggested, itywould lead either to an
appropriation or to negative: Of the
proposed work. If the senator thinks il
necessary to add a specific requirement
that no expenditure shall be made on
the estimates until the amount shall
have been appropriated by congress
from the reclamation fund, I should
have no objection to that kind Of an
amendment.
Mr.. Nelson-I think an amendment
of that kind should be made.
:, Mr.. Hale, who is acting chairman of
the committee on appropriations in the
absence of Senator Allison, then took
up the debate, which wound up with
the Introduction of an amendment bv
the Maine senator as follows:
-. On and after July 1, 1907, no fur
Their expenditure for the purposes
named shall be made except upon esti-
mates as herein provided for and an.
preparations therefor made ; by: CON
gress. sygSy Hi $ ~ i
No intent to Hurt Work. : j. j
:Offcials Of the interior, department
abselve both Senators Nelson and Hale