The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-07
IRRIGATION BILL
SHARPLY DEBATED
Hitch Occurs in Attempts to
Pass Amendments
CHARGES BY HEPBURN
Idaho Senator Declares That the Bill
Had Been Promoted BY Corpora
lions and Lively Discuss
sion Is Precipifated

Washington, April Ex-senator Warren s
private corpora tions was the subject of
prolonged debate in the Senate today.
The consideration of the measure en-
crossed practically the entire session.
When Senator Warren moved to take
up the bill no vote was cast in the mega
tive and it was believed that in view OF
the subsequent adoption of an amend
ment guaranteeing the rights of states
| in the matter of the control of streams
within their borders a compromise had
been reached which would insure early
action on the bill.
Such did not prove to be the case. The
states right amendment was presented
by Mr.. Warren, who said it had been
revised by Mr.. Hepburn, who had sue
cessfully conducted two or three filibus-
tiers against the bill.
| Apparently at first modified by the
amendment Mr.. Hepburn ultimately took
| the position in a quick change that
| It would be of no service and vigorously
denounced it as a subterfuge and deiusion
He announced, however that having
practically exhausted himself he would
not continue his opposition to the bill
The Idaho senator's submission to what
apparently had been conceived to be the
inevitable was not of long duration. Two
or three other senators have given him
encouragement to believe that he had
support on the floor and with this in mind
he renewed his opposition and denounced
the measure as on previous occasions.
When. later in the discussion Mr.. Hey
burn stated that the bill had been pro-
NOTED by the corporations. Mr.. Warren
denied such was fact. With some de-
gree of warmth he said:
II deny that mputation I drew the
| bill up myself as the result of sug-
gestion from governmental official and
not in the interest of any corporation"
Much of today's criticism of the bill
by Senator Hepburn was directed to the
omission of individuals from the list OF
those to whom the government may de.
liver water privileges as provided by
the bill. He commended that the effect
would be to prevent the use of water fol-
domestic or mining purposes
| Denouncing the bill as "a Legislative
crime.' he asserted he could explain the
apparent willingness of senators to permit
the measure to pass only on the GROUND
| that they either failed to comprehend the
terms of the bill or to appreciate theii
duty as senators.
| At this juncture Senator Carter at
tempted to pour oil on the troubled polti
cal waters by proposing an amend,h,nt
| ipo Individuals Interested but II
| did not have the effect OF placing stol
to the discussion in which Messrs. Car,
| ter, Hepburn, Borah. Warren, Burkett
| Flint and Jones participated.
| Senator Hepburn was again sharply
| antagonized by his colleague, Senator
Borah. who in emphatic terms declared
| the bill to be in the interest of and &C
| ceptable to the people of Idaho. Point
ing out that the bill provided only fol-
ileges by the government he contended i
did not authorize the gale of water as hat
been asserted
..Then how can the government sell it,
incurred the senior senator from ldano.
1.-THE government does not sell 1t.
replied the Junior senator from Idaho.
THE bill so provides, positively as
serted Mr.. Hepburn.
"It does not do anything of the kiho'
responded Mr. Borah with emphasis.
Both senators were evidently stirre'
IN over the situation and later Mr. ffey
burn expressed regret at the fact ,na
he was in conflict with his colleague. Nj
Borah did not appear to be at all piaca'e'
by the mild manner of his ASSOCIATE
HE differs not only from me, put iro ,l
the state land board and all others wh
have tho matter in charge, he SAD a.,
with this exchange of amenities IN
hill was laid aside for the day.