, 1912-03-14
IUR WASHINGTON LETTER
70 Build Snake River Bridge-Public
Land Bills having hard Shedding
in Democratic Congress


a new tack in hope of securing
tbe construction of the bridge
scros Snake river, By the terms
Of a bill just introduced, the Sec
rotary of Interior is authorized to
expend funds from the Reclama-
tion service toward building this
much needed structure. The great
necessity for this structure arises
from the fact that the building of
the dam at the outlet of jackson
lake creates a stage of water in
Snake river at times impossible to
ford. Once this winter the opening
of the gates sent such a volume of
water down that the ferry was
washed away and the people of
the jackson Hole region and the
towns of Jackson. Grovont, Che
hey, Elk, and Zenith, out off from
ali outside communication for a
week or more. The activities of
the Reclamation service are en-
tireIy responsible for conditions,
aud Mr.. Mondell hopes to persuade
the service that it's money should
be used to relieve the settlers from
the Inconvenience thus caused.
1t would require authority from
congress to 80 expend these funds,
and the introduction of the bill
followed.
Members of the Wyoming dele
CATION are receiving hundreds of
letters daily containing inquiries
regarding the various public land
bills now before congress. A
majority of these communications
can only be answered in a very
general way, as the bills in ques
ton have not reached a point
where their fate may be safely
predicted. The House majority
has not yet indicated anything
like a definite policy on public
land legislation, but the outlook
in not very encouraging. There
seems to be a disposition among
many members of the House ma
jOrlty to scrutinize all public land
pills in the light of the average
Recommendations. From a rat.
her hasty sizeup Of the situation
lt seems this element will DO in
the majority-in which event the
people of the west may expect lit
te liberalization of the laws re-
Pstlug to the entry of public land.
Because the Borah bill has pas
sed the senate it must not be taken
as an Indication that it will pass
the house. In fact, it is certain
the measure will not pass the
house unless materially amended.
II must not be forgotten that each
state has equal representation in
the senate, while New York state,
Tor example, has o members i'll
tue house than all the public land
States combined. A majority of
We public land states-like Wyo-
lg, Montana, Utah, North OAK
Oa, South Dakota and Nevada
have but one member each in the
louse: compare this fact with the
hct that New York state has 81,
Pennsylvania 80, Ohio 81, Illinois
70 and Massachusetts IA, and a
leason will be found for the above
statements. The states with the
Og delegations are largely ultra
conservationists; the one-man de-
ltgatlons come from states deman-
ding more liberal land laws. Not
outstanding this fact, western
members are doing all they can,
aud hope TO persuade II majority
INTO their views on some pending
and legislation. The western
member meyer presents a public
and bill as he would like to have
" enacted-always as he thinks it
may be possible to pass muster be-
lore the big majority of eastern
aud southern members who either