, 1914-12-17
Interesting News Budget.

That the waterpDWer Dill, nrst
If the conservation measures the
president wants enacted this ses-
sion to be taken up for considera-
tion by the senate, will not get
through as passed by the house,
WAS evidenced at the beginning of
senate hearings on the bill. Sem
tor Clark, who is a member of the
Public Lands committee, is taking
a very active interest in this bill
because of it's importance to the
west. AT the opening hearing the
other day the Senator told the
committee the should be
amended 80 as to make it manda-
tory on the secretary of the Inter
ior to issue a permit when the law
has been complied with. AS pass
ed by the house it provides that
the secretary "may" issue these
leases. Senator Clark's contention
is that this places entirely too
much authority in the hands of
the administrative officer. When
the bill was up in the house Rep
resentatiye Mondell made a strong
fight on this same provision, but
was outvoted by the democratic
majority.
A confusion of bills has led some
newspapers to publish an an
nouncement to the effect that the
grazing homestead bill "has pass
ed both houses and is now in con-
ference" This is eltirely erron-
eous, and probably due to the fact
that a bill with a somewhat SINH
lar title has reached this point
toward enactment. The bill, how
ever, is one proposing to extend
the privileges of the enlarged
homestead law to those who have
perfected a former homestead en-
try, which is now not possible
under the law.
Early during the present con-
gress Representative Mondell of
Wyoming introduced a grazing
homestead bill providing for an
entry of not less than $40 acres
and not more than 1880 acres, to
be determined by the secretary OF
the Interior. This bill, with sew.
eral similar measures, was con-
sidered by the house committee,
which later reported what is known
as the Ferguson stockraising bill,
providing for an entry of $40 acres
only. This measure was favorably
reported to the house May 9th.
1t could have been called up at
any time, but in the five months
OF session after the above date
those in charge of the Legislative
program of the house did not call
the bill up for enactment. 1t still
occupies this position on the house
calendar. In the absence of any
uehnlte expression from the demo-
cratic leaders, who have entire
control of the matter, it is impossi-
Ole to hazard a guess as to
whether it is intended to pass the
Ferguson bill or let it die with the
session. 1t has been suggested that
as the member who was given the
nohor of having his name put on
Tue bill has been defeated, some
o'ntr ambltious-and successful
western member might want the
uonor' In any event, the bill is
"here 1t may be enacted at any
''me the democratic majority cares
10 DO it-and has been in that
position since last May; it is 'up
10 those responsible for the house
legislative program to say whether
snT measure is to be passed by the
house OF not.
III the estimates sent to Congress
''F appropriations for the fiscal
S'ar 1910, Wyoming comes in for
','o'o,cOO for the extension of two
VI It's reclamation projects. The
sum OF 100000 is asked on the
o'' Laramie unit, and S47S,O 900
v llH H'rn p - -. - Wy