THE IKKIGATION AGE. 



137 



are segregated and subject! only to the homestead. 

 Lands not under any project contemplated by the 

 United States, if entered by desert or other land laws, 

 contribute to the irrigation fund, therefore rendering 

 support to national irrigation. 



HAVE Messrs. Newell and Pinchot yielded the prin- 

 ciples of co-ordination and are they seeking to estab- 

 lish the foreign condition of bureaucracy? Affiliated 

 design, or affinity for one another and the coterie of 

 inspirationists, is resulting in departmental decadence, 

 and indications point to an attempt to assimilate the 

 land department. We have noticed that one John E. 

 Field, a reclamation engineer, uses considerable of 

 his time in giving new interpretations of old land 

 laws and advising prospective settlers to contest claims. 

 Whether this advice results from a natural officious 

 intrusiveness or originates in covert policies of Mr. 

 Newell to subordinate and absorb Mr. Eichard's legit- 

 imate prerogatives, is, of course, more or less conjec- 

 ture, especially to laymen on the outside. Mr. Pin- 

 chot's intrusive interest in proposed lease reserves and 

 extension of forest reserves also indicates ingression on 

 duties of the land department. Shortly, all the land 

 commissioner will need do is sit with folded hands and 

 watch other divisions work out his destinies. He will, 

 of course, get all blame for blunders, otherwise he could 

 be disposed of entirely. 



AND now a word relating to the new Federation 

 and how it happened. Had not the National Irrigation 

 Association attempted the crime of breaking the inde- 

 pendent mettle of the West, had not its inordinate lust 

 for power inspired imprudent exploitation, had it not 

 attempted to use the reclamation service to intimidate 

 private enterprise into obedience and incident bountiful 

 contributions, had it been loyal to the West and not 

 ignored western cyclopean spirit, had it remembered 

 "'twas this energy which made the National Irrigation 

 Act, had it not by undue influence perverted a noble 

 purpose, there would have been no American Irrigation 

 Federation, for it would have had no reason to exist. 



IMMODERATE ambition, and hypnotic control of 

 Mr. Newell impelled conceptions of power which have 

 augmented frenzied policies. Mr. Maxwell forgot the 

 spirit of the West, when he sought its subjugation by 

 directing autocratic federal dominance. It may for a 

 period endure, but a cyclone of energy is accumulating, 

 and demands for a "square deal" vibrates with no un- 

 certain admonition. Mutterings here and there are 

 evidences of an impending calyclism of censure, which 

 -even severe critics of mal-administration are endeavor- 

 ing to temper. 



IT SEEMS possible that nothing short of an in- 

 vestigation will make the spoilers pause; they do not 

 conceive the ozone of the West induces the antithesis 

 moribund philosophy. People dwelling in higher alti- 

 tudes are incapable of subjugation, which bigots of tem- 

 porary power will awaken to realize. 



JUST now the bell wether of the bunch has dis- 

 covered another mare's nest. To direct attention from 

 his own peculiar attributes, he is crying "thief" at every 

 passer-by. The President is an imputed partner in 

 gigantic swindling legislation. The statehood bill is 

 painted lurid red in crime. Mr. Maxwell's mania for 

 detecting "steals" is best explained by an analysis of 

 his environments, and past associations. 



MALODOROUS atmosphere will paint on a canvas of 

 Empyrean blue monstrosities in shapes and colors all 

 its own. The Statehood bill may be unjust to the South- 

 west territories, it may impose conditions which are 

 undesirable, but inferences of Executive connivance in 

 steals has no justification. Eecent administrative en- 

 deavor has shown a strong tendency absolutely the 

 reverse to such imputations. 



THE American Irrigation Federation and its 

 enunciated principles leads to a hope for better influ- 

 ences, to amalgamation of purposes for greatest possible 

 development of Western Empire. The earlier organiza- 

 tion has passed its period of usefulness and its dele- 

 terious influences were menacing. If in its expiring 

 throes it drags with it Frederick of the omnispective, 

 luminous orbs, it were better for the service. David 

 Starr Jordan says: "Paternal governments are always 

 oppressive and blundering." But, if true, many of us 

 must yet be disillusioned. Maladministration in gov- 

 ernmental, corporate, or personal affairs alike deserves 

 and brings a day of retribution. Dr. Newall should 

 retire. 



NO "STAR CHAMBER" SESSIONS. 



The time seems to be ripe for a thorough investiga- 

 tion of the reclamation branch of the Interior Depart- 

 ment. The precedent of the postoffice investigation 

 should be followed: no "star chamber" trials. Play 

 out in the open and hear all sides and all comers ; then 

 see where the "private" interests were behind the re- 

 clamation "knocks" of this Valley of Content. Stand- 

 ard, Imperial, Col. 



I 



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 I year, and The Primer of Irrigation 



