The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-07
IRRIGATION BILL
IS HOTLY DEBATED
Western Leaders in Senate
Clash Over Disposal of Sur
plus Waters.
HEPBURN FIGHTS HARD
AGAINST THE MEASURE
Declares 1t to Be in Interest of
Corporations; ROrah for
the Bill.

WASHINGTON. April 6.-Seuator War
ren's bill authorizing the disposal OF the
surplus waters OF government irrigation
projects 10 private corporations. was the
subject OF prolonged debate In the SEN
ate again today.
When Senator Warren moved to take
up the bill no vote was cast In the mega =
i've, and IL was believed, In view OF the
subsequent adoption OF an ancndmrn,
guaranteeing the rights OF states in the
matter OF the control OF streams within
thelr borders. compromise had been
reached that would insure early action
Such DID not prove to be tho case
The states rights amendments were
presented by Mr.. Warren. who said they
had been revised by Mr. Hepburn, who
hllhusters against the bill. Apparently
mounted by the amendments at first
MT Hepburn ultimately took the posi-
tion that they would be OF no service.
ana vigorously denounced them AS sub
terfuges and dclusions. He announced.
however. that having practically exhaust
cd himself, he would not continue his
opposition to The bill.
Hepburn Still Fights.
The Idaho senator's submission 10
what apparently he had conceived To he
the inevitable, was not OF long duration.
TWO or three other sena tors having given
him cncouraCcmcnt TO believe he had
support on the floor. lie renewed his
as vigorous terms as on any previous
day.
When later In the discussion. Mr.. Hey
bum stated tho bill had been dictated
by the corporations, Mr., Warren denied
such was the case. With some degree OF
warmth he said:
II deny that imputation. / drew the
bill as the result OF a suggestion from a
government official, ana not IN the in
tcrcst Of any corporation"
Much OF the days criticism Of the bill
by Senator Hepburn was directed to the
omission OF individuals from the list OF
those 10 whom the government may de-
liver water as provided by the bill. He
contended the effect would be To prevent
the use uf water for domestic or mining
purposes. DcHouncing tho bill - leg
islstive crime" he asserted he could OK
plain the apparent Willingness OF Scna -
tors to permit the measure TO pass only
on the ground that they failed either to
comprehend The terms or the bill or To
appreciate their duty.
At this juncture senator Carter at
tempted TO pour oil on the troubled wa
ters by proposing an amendment includ-
ing individual consumers. but while the
amendment was accepted by all this ac-
sion. In which Mcssrs. Carter, Hepburn.
Borah. Warren. Burkett. Flint and Jones
participated
Borah for the Bill.
Senator Hepburn was again sharply an
taEonizcd by his colleague. senator
the bill Ia be I'm the interest Of tho poo
pie Of Idaho and acceptable TO them.
Pointing out that tho bill provided only
FOR payment for the delivery Of water
by the government, he contendcd that II
did not authorize the sale OF water, as
had been asserted
Then how can the government soll?'
inquired tho senior senator from Idaho.
Tho government does not sell IL. ~
natly replied the junior senator from
Idaho
'"rhe bill 50 provides" positively as
serted Mr.. Hepburn.
III does not do anything of the kind, '
even more cmphatlcaIly replied Nh.
Rorah.
Both scns tors evidently were stirred
over the situation. Later Mr.. Hepburn
expressed regret at the conflict with his
colleague. Mr.. Borah did not appear 20
he at all placatcd by the mild manner
Of his associate.
''IIc differs not only from me, but from
the state land board and all others who
have the matter in charge, he SAID.
With this exchange OF amenities the
bill was laid aside for the day.