THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



An important ruling has recently been made 

 Carey by Judge Dietrich of the Federal Court in 



Act Is the District of Idaho, the effect of which 



Not a - will be that reclamation matters can be de- 



Revenue Law. cided in state courts providing the Su- 

 preme Court will sustain the above deci- 

 sion. 



The case calling forth this issue was that of the Twin 

 Falls Canal Co., Limited, versus Joseph C. Foote and Chas. 

 1^. Foster and others, which was thrown out of the federal 

 court into the state courts for adjudication, Judge Dietrich 

 giving the following seven reasons for so doing: 



"First Unquestionably the reclamation act is not a meas- 

 ure for 'raising revenue' in the constitutional sense. 



"Second It is clear, and there is no decisive ruling to 

 the effect, that the phrase 'revenue laws,' as used in section 

 643, is more comprehensive than the constitutional clause, 

 "bills for raising revenue.' 



"Third However that may be, 'revenue law,' as the 

 phrase is ordinarily understood, does not aptly describe the 

 reclamation act; it does not readily or naturally fall into line 

 with the defendant's view. Construction is required. 



"Fourth There is nothing either in the history of sec- 

 tion 643 or in the conditions conducing to its enactment from 

 which it is to be inferred that congress intended to attach 

 to the phrase, 'revenue law,' any unusual significance or 

 give to it a meaning beyond that which it is ordinarily under- 

 stood to convey. 



"Fifth The reported cases are wholly indecisive of the 

 question. 



"Sixth There is nothing in the reclamation act from 

 which it can be inferred that congress intended it as a revenue 

 measure or from which the presumption arises that con- 

 gress proposed that controversies like the one here involved 

 should be brought within the exclusive cognizance of the fed- 

 eral court. 



"Seventh In view of these several considerations it is 

 concluded generally that the reclamation act cannot properly 

 be a 'revenue law' within the meaning of section 643. The 

 question may not be entirely free from doubt, but we are 

 admonished that in cases where our jurisdiction is subject 

 to substantial doubt it should not be exerted." 



As the case will be carried to the United States Supreme 

 Court it will be of interest to watch further development. 

 This subject will be followed closely by THE IRRIGATION ACE 

 and full information concerning it given to its readers. 



Elsewhere appears an article by Fred- 

 A Decimal erick A. Smith, suggesting a new System 



System of f Measures and Weights for the United 



Measures States. When one compares our present 



and Weights labor-wasting system with the simple 



decimal system outlined by Mr. Smith, 

 the wish appears readily that such a change be made at 

 the earliest possible moment. 



The metric system is evidently making no progress in 

 this country, probably on account of the fact that its 

 adoption would mean a total change in all units and 

 would cause a tremendous upheaval in all lines of busi- 

 ness. 



The system outlined by Mr. Smith retains our pres- 

 ent mile as the fundamental unit, and its adoption will 

 therefore not interfere with the geographical surveys of 

 our country nor with the subdivisions of the public lands, 

 townships and sections remaining intact as they are at 

 present. 



It seems rather queer how a country which prides 

 itself of having invented and using more labor-saving 

 machinery than any other nation in the world continues 

 to waste miiions of dollars annually in time by hanging 



onto an obsolete system of measures and weights, just 

 because it takes some effort and confusion to make a 

 change. 



Much of the blame rests with our prominent edu- 

 cators, who, from their better knowledge of the subject, 

 know what a benefit it would be to the country if a 

 decimal system of measures and weights would be 

 adopted; yet they make no effort of any importance, and 

 the consequence is that the country remains in bondage 

 to a burdensome and time-devouring system. 



When shall we be delivered from this bondage? 



This issue of THE IRRIGATION AGE con- 

 Table of tams an alphabetical table of contents of 

 Contents a U tne editorials and articles which have 

 For Volume appeared in the columns of THE IRRIGA- 

 Twenty-Six. TION AGE during the past year. This is 

 another improvement added by the pub- 

 lisher as it will increase the value of the files of the 

 paper, since any article can be readily located by exam- 

 ining this index. Thus step by step our paper adopts 

 improvements for the convenience of our patrons, keeping 

 not only a choice class of interesting and instructive read- 

 ing matter, but making it easily accessible for ready 

 reference by an approved system of indexing. 



Our patrons understand the attitude of the publisher 

 who stands for progress and fair play and this accounts 

 for the generous support which is bestowed upon all sides 

 to our publication. It is the intention to not only continue 

 the good work, but to improve the same as opportunity 

 may point the way. 



Send Three Dollars for one year's subscription to THE 

 IRRIGATION AGE and one copy of the "Primer of Hy- 

 draulics," which will be ready early in 1912. This will 

 save you 50 cents, as the book will sell for $2.50 net. 



Thoughts 

 That 

 Come 

 and Go. 



President Taft's 13,000-mile trip through 

 the United States has given him some ideas 

 on the Reclamation Problem. 

 * * * 



Some of the late floods in Colorado are 

 teaching the lesson that the weather man 

 cannot be depended on and that it is best to be prepared for 



all kinds of emergencies. 



* * * 



THE IRRIGATION AGE enters into its twenty-seventh year 

 with this issue, and is accordingly able to vote. 



* * * 



Renew your subscription promptly ; the publisher must 

 meet his bills promptly, and he will be unable to do so unless 

 his bills receivable are paid when due. 



* * * 



The "Primer of Hydraulics" will be ready in January, 

 1912. The price of the book will be $2.50 net, cloth bound, 

 or $3.00 if order is sent either with a renewed subscription 

 or with a new subscription to THE IRRIGATION AGE for one 



year. 



* * * 



The Irrigation Congress will hold forth in Chicago, De- 

 cember 5th to 9th inclusive. This is to be an important 

 meeting. 



DO IT NOW 



Send one dollar for a year's subscription to the 

 Irrigation Age. Once a subscriber always a subscriber. 



