Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1915-03-25
SENATOR HTIMM
HOME FROM CAPITAL
VIII Visit Various Parts Of state
sefos. Returning To
washington

United States Senator Key Pittman
and Mrs. Pittman have returned to
Tonopah from Washington and will
remain there until the opening of the
next session Of congress. Senator
Pittman will make a number Of trips
to various parts Of the state on mat
tiers connected with the legislative
needs OF the people.
THE session that has just closed,
the last OF the Sixty-third congress,
was n Of the most prolonged and
most important In the history Of the
nation" said Senator Pittman. 81 In.
troduced the bill for the creation of
q second land district in the state
OF Nevada, which was carried to a
successful conclusion, together with
an amendment to the agricultural bill
providing for an appropriation OF
$150,000 to start exploration for ar
tesian water in the arid states. Prob
ably the greater portion of this
amount will be expended In Nevada,
as there Is less flowing water here
than ! n any other state. / secured by
he passage by the senate Of a bill
to encourage the exploration of subter-
ranean water channels in Nevada. The
bill provided for the location of four
sections of arid land for exploration
purposes. II water were discovered
the locator received one section of his
own selection, while the other three
were to be sold In such units as the
interior department might fix. Money
derived from the sale of. the remain
ing sections was to be divided among
the reclamation fund, the state road
fund and the university Of Nevada.
This measure died in the house by
reason Of the fllibuster.
my bill introduced for homestead
Ing by non-residents of 800 acres of
land, permitting a man to homestead
by doing so much work each year,
without actual residence, also met
death In the house for a similar rea-
son, after being passed by the senate.
This was due to the congested condi-
ton Of the calendar.
I'm the committee on arid lands
I was on the subcommittee, that
framed the twenty-year extension re-
bill, which was OF especial ad-
vantage to the settlers on the
Truckee-C Carson project. This meas
ure was successfully. but not easily
enacted. In association with Sena-
tors Walsh and Thomas, 1 made the
argument for the bill for the pur-
chase Of silver by the United States,
when the price OF the white metal fell
below the 52-cent mark, in order to
meet and rebuff the panicky condi-
tons which arose Immediately after
the declaration of war.
Associated with Senators Smoot
and Walsh, I presented the matter of
the seizure Of copper shipments by
Great Britain and obtained the release
Of O number OF consignments. They
secured the ~amelioration Of condi-
lions connected with the shipment Of
copper abroad.
81 had charge Of Senator New
lands bill, during the absence Of the
latter, for the relief Of property own
ers along the Central Pacific right of
way. validating their titles. This bill
was originally introduced by Senator
Nixon, but did not come before con
gress until the last day OF the session.
All these measures generally and par
ticularly affected the state of Nevada.
"As chairman of the committee ON
territories, / had charge of the Alas
ka railroad bill on the floor OF tho
senate and as chairman or the sub
committee of the public lands COM
mittee I had charge of and passed the
Alaska coal leasing bill. My efforts
were also directed In the leadership
Of the campaign for the passage OF
the relief bill for the independent oil
operators Of the West and the Hetch-
Hetchy bill, giving a municipal water
supply to San Francisco. and the 9TH
or bay cities. AS a member of the
subcommittee of the public lands
committee / assisted In the prepare
ton OF all the so-called conservation
acts advocated by Secretary Lane.
"By way Of addenda It may be
stated that Senator Newlands and
induced the Secretary Of the Interior
to Immediately start work upon the
upper Carson irrigation project, which
means the bringing of $4,000 acres OF
land in the Carson valley under cul.
tivation.
During this session I have syste.
matically supported tho administration
In oil Of its policies"
In Senator Pittman's estimate, Clay
Tallman Of Tonopah has made good.
He is recognized as one Of the best
commissioners of the general land de-