Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-08
DEBATE OVER WARREN BILL
Measure Providing for Sale Of Sur
plus Water Causes Long Tilt.
HEPBURN TERMS IT sUBTERFUGE
Idaho senator Again Array ed Against
Amendments aud he Voices OpPO-
sition in vigorous Terms
senator BorRh Active.

-
WASHINGTON. April Senator War
ren's bill authorizing the disposal Of the
sun plus waters Of government irrigation
projects to private corporations was the
subject of prolonged debate in the senate
again today.
When Senator Warren moved 20 take up
the bill no vote WAS cast in the negative
and it was believed that IN view Of the
n bsequeut adoption Of an amendment
guaranteeing the rights OF states in the
matter of the control of streams within
their borders. a compromise lad been
reached which would insure early action
On the bill. Such did not prove to be the
case.
The states rights amendment was pre-
scented by Mr.. Warren. who said 1t had
boon revised by MI. Hepburn, who had
successfully conducted two or three fill
busters against the bill.
Hepburn DenOuBces Bill.
Apparently at first notified by the
amendment. MI. Hepburn ultimately took
the position that it would be Of no service
and vigorously denounced IL as q subter-
fuge and delusion. He announced, how
ever, that hsving practically exhausted
himself. he would NOT continue hls opposi-
ton to the bill. The Idaho senator's sub
u issiOn to what apparently he had con-
Ceivcd TO be the inevitable wa not Of long
duration. Two CT three other senators
having given him encouragement to believe
nc had support on the floor, he renewed
his opposition and denounced the measure
n as vigorous terms as on any previous
Gay.
Wh,n later in the discussion Mr.. Hey
burn stated that the bill had been dictated
by the corporations, Mr.. Warren denied
tnat such WAS the fact. With some de-
gree Of warmth he said:
Il deny that imputation. ] drew the bill
as tie result Of a suggestion from q gov
eminent official and not in the interest of
sny corporation"
Much Of today's criticism Of the bill by
Senator Hepburn was directed to the omis.
sion Of individuals from the list Of those
to whom the government may deliver water
as provided by the bill. He contended that
the effect would be to prevent the use
Of water for domestic or mining purposes
Denouncing the bill as Legislative crime.
he asserted that he could explain the ap.
parent willingness Of senators to permit
the measure 10 pass only on the grounC
that they either failed to comprehend tn,
terms of the bill or to appreciate theIl
duty as senators.
Tries to Make Peace.
At this juncture Senator Carter ATTEMPTED
3 to pour oil on the troubled waters by pro.
posing an amendment including individual
consumers, but while the amendment wal
accepted by all, this action did not have tn,
] effect of putting a stop to the discussion
in which Messrs. Carter, Hepburn. Borah
Warren, Burkett, Flint and Jones partic
/ ipated.
Senator Hepburn was again sharply an
tagonised by his colleague, Senator Borah
who, in emphatic terms, declared the bill
TO be in the interest Of and acceptable tc
the people Of Idaho. Pointing out that tn,
bill provided only for payment for the de
livery Of water by the government, h,
commended that it did not authorize the sal,
Of water as had been asserted.
Both senators evidently were stirred owe,
the situation. Later Mr.. Hepburn expressed
regret at the fact that be was in conflict
with his colleague. Mr.. Borah did not an
pear to be ali placated by the mild manner
OF his associate.