62 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



J. L. VanDerwerker, of Yuma, is chairman of the 

 Arizona commission and is also very much in earnest 

 and thoroughly well equipped. His commission will 

 deal with the problems of our new Southwest and its 

 report ought to be an important contribution to irri- 

 gation literature. 



The Georgia commission, as noted in this journal 

 last month, consists of five very prominent citizens 

 of the Empire State of the South, and its report will 

 be awaited with much interest because the idea 

 of irrigation in that part of the country is itself 

 unique. 



A CODE OF STATE LAWS. 



The reports of the irrigation commissions will 

 deal not only with the question of a national 

 policy, but also with local laws which it is hoped 

 may be made common to all the States. This 

 latter feature is one of great importance. It is cer- 

 tain to lead to a full discussion of the District 

 law of California, of the office of State Engineer 

 and other subjects of the widest interest. It 

 seems desirable that it should be the policy of 

 States to do more for themselves and expect less of 

 the National Government. It is hoped that the in- 

 fluence of the congress will go far to popularize 

 this idea. 



ROTUNDA OF BROWN PALACE HOT! L 



ENLARGING THE SCOPE OF THE NATIONAL WORK. 



An effort will also be made to enlarge the scope of 

 the National Executive Committee. This is absolutely 

 necessary in order to put irrigation before the country 

 as a national issue and secure the triumph of the pol- 

 icy enunciated by the coming congress. It will also 

 have a beneficial influence in providing outlets for 

 irrigation securities and securing settlers for irrigated 

 lands. If the committee could next year be extended 

 so as to include a representative man from every 

 State in the Union the result could not fail to do good. 

 But nothing in this direction can be done until the 

 West is ready to present its plans to the country with 

 an earnest and unanimous voice. We must settle our 

 differences first, and then appeal with united front to 

 the American people. 



TWO COMMITTEES ON RESOLUTIONS. 



It is likely that the work of the coming congress 

 will be divided between two committees on resolu- 

 tions, one dealing with national legislation and one 

 with State laws. In view of the vast importance of 

 the subjects they will discuss, it is desired to have 

 the convention itself analyze the reports of the State 

 Commissions and debate every item that may enter 

 into the final declarations of the congress. While the 



plan has not been 

 perfected as yet, it 

 is likely that the 

 commissions will 

 submit their reports 

 on the first night of 

 the convention, and 

 that the commit- 

 tees will then deal 

 with them by top- 

 ics. For instance, 

 the Committee on 

 National Legisla- 

 tion may first take 

 up the forestry sub- 

 ject, then pastural 

 lands, then inter- 

 state waters, and 

 so on to the end of 

 the list. A similar 

 plan might be pur- 

 sued by the Com- 

 mittee on State 

 Legislation. Hav- 

 ing shaped its re- 

 port upon one topic, 

 the committee can 

 refer it to the con- 

 gress for debate 

 and ratification or 



