THE IRRIGATION AGE. 229 



objection to irrigating for the Indians. But here, according to the 

 report, the Indians cannot be successfully supplied without at the 

 same time providing more water than they need and benefiting white 

 people. The Senator says: How can you build this reservoir without 

 injuring the Florence Canal Company? The canal company took it 

 from the Indians, but the settlers under the canal bought their land 

 of the Government. It will be hard to take the water away from them 

 and give it back to the Indians now. That would ruin the white set- 

 tlers. Nobody proposes to do that. 



But by building this reservoir the Government can provide new 

 supplies for the Indians, so as not to injure the white settlers under 

 the canal. Justice can he done to all parties, no one will be injured, 

 and the Government can get all its money back. But that seems to be 

 what they object to that and the possibility that some of the desert 

 might be irrigated to make homes for some more white men. 



Mr. SPOONER. The whole subject of irrigation is a very large 

 one. We have a Committee on Irrigation, have we not? 



Mr. STEWART. Yes. 



Mr. SPOONER. Is the Senator from Nevada chairman of it? 



Mr. STEWART. No. 



Mr. SPOONER. He was at one time. 



Mr. STEWART. Yes. 



Mr. SPOONER. Now, if the Government is to be committed to the 

 scheme of irrigation it may be a good thing why is not a bill brought 

 in here, an independent proposition, which can be debated? 



Mr. STEWART. Because the Senate is not sufficiently educated. 



Mr. SPOONER. That is the way to educate it. Why is it always 

 done on some provision in an appropriation bill? 



Mr. STEWART. So that we can talk about it and discuss it. 



Mr. SPOONER. All you want, then, is talk? 



Mr. STEWART. No; I want you educated. I want to accomplish 

 something. If I can educate you and get you to understand it, you 

 will be the most enthusiastic friend of irrigation in the Senate. 



Mr. SPOONER. Very likely; but every attempt to inaugurate this 

 system has been by stealth. 



Mr. STEWART. It is not done by stealth. 



Mr. SPOONER. We discussed one proposition at the last session of 

 Congress which was under the guise of improvement of navigation. 



MR. STEWART. Let me tell you something- 

 Mr. SPOONER. It was perfectly obvious 



Mr. STEWART. Let me tell you something perfectly new to you, 

 that you do not know. 



Mr. SPOONER. I will not say that I do not until I know what you. 

 are going to say. 



