The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1910-01-06
GARTER AFTER NEWELLS SCALP
Montana's Senior Senator Is
Seeking to Legislate Newell
From the Service.

Senator Carter, chairman of the
committee on irrigation, has in con-
temptation plan for legislating out of
office Director F. II. Newell of the
Reclamation Service. OF course, the
genial Senator does not say this is his
idea; far from it, and doubtless if Mr..
Newell should mention the subject to
him. he would disavow any such purpose.
But bear in mind, this is Mr.. Carter, of
Montana, who is referred to here.
As matter of fact, Mr.. Carter is
not openly discussing his little legisla-
tive program for publication; that is
not his policy. He has however, per-
mitted few of his ideas to ooze out and
find their way into print just useabow
they will take with the dea pie.
If they meet with cordial REG Mr..
Carter will get busy; IL they4sz1 rost-
bitten, never a word will he say public
ly about the advisability of legislating
Mr.. Newell out of Office.
As a result of two months spent in
inspecting Government irrigation pro-
iects in the West, Mr.. Carter has come
to the conclusion that there should be
a business manager of the Reclamation
Service, a general administrative officer
10 take charge of all save the engi-
neering work This is the job now
held by Mr.. Newell.
But Mr.. Carter's idea is to create a
new office, place the new official on the
staff of the Secretary of the Interior,
give him absolute sway over the manage
ment of the Reclamation Service, sub
ject only to revision by the Secretary
himself, and then turn back Mr..
Newell to his former position of engi-
neer, taking from him all authority as
an administrative officer. That is the
plan.
OF course it is not intended to humili-
ate Newell in any way, but the fact re-
mains that If Carter's idea is carried
through. IL will mean a demotion for
Newell; a reduction both in authority
and in salary. and that is exactly the
plan of Mr.. Carter.
When he was nearing Washington,
after touring the West, Mr.. Carter
gave out All interview in which he said,
In effect, that the Reclamation Service
had suffered severely from the lack OF
business capacity and experience, and
as further declaring that the time had
come for reform. He was quoted as
favoring the reduction of running ex-
penses, ETC., and between the lines OF
the interview would be read his purpose
to legislate Newell out of Office.
When he reached Washington, the
Senator was not willing to shoulder the
interview as given, though he did con-
Tess that the main thought was correct
iy voiced. Now that he Is on the
ground, the Senator is looking about
To see what chance he will have Of
passing a bill which will remove Newell
from the scene.
IL may be he will not have to resort
20 legislation even. for it may be dis
cretionary with the Secretary of the
Interior, in the handling of the recla-
nation fund, to create or abolish Offices
as he deems necessary. OF course, If
Carter can accomplish what he wants
without being compelled to go openly
before Congress, and If he can persuade
some one else TO stand sponsor for
what he himself wants done, but hesi-
tates to do, he will be all the happier.
That Is Carter's method.
But when all is said and done, Mr..
Carter is most certainly after Newell's
scalp. 1t remains to be see whether he
mill cot Il