Show v 0 IRRIGATION LAW LA LAIS IS PROPOSED BY WILLIAM SPRY AND OTHERS At a dinner confer conference nce of nine of the western senators called by U U. U S. S Land Commissioner William Spry of Utah and E. E F. F Blaine Elaine of Seattle representing the Western States Reclamation Reclamation Reclamation Rec Rec- association the foundation foundation foundation tion was laid for legislation providIng providing providing provid provid- ing a broad and comprehensive plan of national reclamation of ot arid lands At this conference Senator McNary McNary McNary Mc Mc- Nary of at O Oregon ego 1 chairman of at the reclamation reclamation reclamation rec rec- committee of the senate laid before his colleges the tentative draft of the proposed legislation He stated staked that the bill was a compromise compromise compromise compro compro- mise and a composite of ot a number of other bills and called for opinion of ot the senators Senator Smoot of ot Utah opened the discussion by arguing the Importance importance importance import Import- ance of holding the legislation to Irrigation reclamation While there are big and worthy problems for the draining of swamp lands and the settlement of logged lands he felt that these forms of ot reclamation should be handled in separate measures measures measures meas meas- ures and aud not confounded with Irrigation irrigation Irr- Irr gation gatlon pointing out that the Irrigation irrigation irrigation gation is an established fact has been proved and demonstrated as a II success that it Is an established policy of the government as witness the reclamation bureau of ot the federal federal federal fed fed- eral government governments and that the administration administration ad ad- ministration stands pledged to Irrl- Irrl gation gatlon Other senators Indorsed this tion The friendliest feeling was expressed for the problems of the southern drainage states and If It these states prepare measures covering covering covering cov cov- ering their own problems they will find friends in the west But because because because be be- cause of the vast difference in the problems of ot the two kinds of reclamation reclamation mation It was felt that any attempt to handle all in one ono piece of legislation legislation legisla legisla- tion would result In a bill too heavily ly loaded to Insure passage An outstanding feature of ot the conference conference conference con con- ference was the unanimous enthusiasm expressed by every senator present present present pres pres- ent in the prospects of securing Irrl- Irrl t J J JL i-JL gallon gatlon legislation carrying an appropriation appropriation appropriation of ot In fact the senators seemed to take the view that It would be comparatively easy to secure the passage of such legis legIs- lation The evening previous there had been held a conference of western congressmen with eighteen members of the lower house present The result result result re re- sult of the two conferences is that committees have been appointed by Congressman Addison Smith of Idaho Idaho Idaho Ida Ida- ho representing the lower house and by Senator McNary representing represent represent- ing the senate to prepare the legislation legislation legis legs lation on which the entire west wilt will unite These two con conferences brought about by Mr Spry and Mr Bl Blame Blaine lne have dono done more to advance the cause of reclamation than anything of recent years So outstanding was the success of the many weeks of work of Mr Spry and Mr Blaine Elaine that they were frequently complimented by both senators and congressmen at atthe atthe atthe the two dinner meetings Of ot course there Is a great deal of work yet to be done The preparation preparation preparation tion of the bill will bring out many minor points and details that will have to be Ironed out and will precipitate precipitate precipitate pre pre- considerable discussion but the joint Committee of three senators senators senators sena sena- tors and three con congressmen should make rapid headway |