Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-05
The PACIFIC ROADS CATCH IT..
The Land Grant Forfeiture Bill Finally
Passes the Senate With Certain
Amendments.
Scheme Fixed Up to Get 1t Through
the House Of Representatives
Very Speedily.
o,esmargarine Legislation Concluded
For Awhile in the House by the
Passage of the Bill.


lore the Senate several mts ages from th'
President vetoing private pension bills. Mr.
Dawes presented petition from the City
Council OF the city OF Gloucester, Massa
chusetts, which was appropriately referred
praying for retaliation Oh the Canadian
IOverunent Tor the seizure of American
fishing vessels. In presenting tile petition
Mr., Dawes said there seemed to be a dis
nositoi on the part of the CanadiOn Gov
srnment to harass and embarass citizens
Of the United States engaged in what coulC
NOT be but considered lawful commerce
Simple commercial transactions, such al
the purchase of provisions had merely beer
the cause of the seizure OF vessels OF States
It seemed to many persons, Mr.. Dave said
rhat there was drill ction OF duty ON The
,art OF those clothed with authority to
,,rntect our commerce, He had no doubt
iha Co nlittee on Foreign Affairs were civ.
;ug the subject proper attention, but he
,GuId inuuire whether the committee could
moi give some assurance that might 60 to
the nubljc, that measures would be taken
which would protect our citizens in their
rights,
Mr. EdmanAs said tho Committee on
rnrfien Relations had no power to protect
American commerce or Americon citizens.
That belonged to the Executive Depart
ment OF the Governnentand as part OF
;ts duty under the laws OF the United States
and the laws OF Nations. In the absence OF
definite information we must presume that
The Eys,utive Department OF the Govern
aent was doing everything 1t could to pro-
tect the citizens OF the United States
whose vessels had been seized or un-
kindly dealt with by the Dominion
ri Canada OF course it might
have happened that some OF these vessels;
it might possibly have happene. that all OF
them had been guilty OF a violation OF the
Existing laws OF Canada. as they had been
seized by the police authorities OF Canada.
Of course there must be public preten-
sion on the part OF these officers that such
was the case. Mr.. Edmunds hoped it would
turn out that the vessels were innocent OF
any violation OF Dominion law or public
law and that they have been engaged In
doing what was allowed by the intercourse
oI nations, bv the laws OF their own coun-
try and of the country to which they had
gone. and that the seizures would therefore
lore he dismissed witnoute even semblanceof
able cause but hat depended, ,OfcOurse,
uuou judicial inquiry in the first instance.
He did not mean to say we would be bound
to acuuiese in the results OF a Canadian
iudrial inquiry If we thought the results
unjust and improper. Ii any OF the vessels
should be conieunedan and the United States
were of opinion the condemnation was un-
inst we should rot be bound by any princi-
nile OF public Justice to acquiesce in it. Ii
We had apy spirit left as he thought we
had, and any strength left, as he thought
we had, though for some reason we had
not been very successful in getting navy,
or in armng our set coast, yet IN some
wav the rights of citizens OF the United
States would be indicated if they had
been violated. Continuing. Mr.. Edmunds
said: The President, if he had signed the
recent Act of Congress-, on this subject,
would now have had power to retaliate
for any Injustice done our vessels in
Canada or elsewhere.
Ii that act had become Il law, and ii our
British brethren were straining a point in
order to force us into a convention OF
reciprocity or "frce fish" or anything
else it was now within the power OF the
Pre- ident to take such measures as would
tend TO correct the abuses. So far as the
Committee on Foreign Relations was con-
cerned however. the subject was too imma'
ture to enable Mr.. Edmunds to make any
public declaration as to how the matter
was, or what might be done about it.
Mr. Dawes remarked that it could not
mittee that armed cruisers OF the Canadian
Government were about the waters and on
NeboIders OF ''Three- mile Limit in search
OfAmerican vessels in order that they might
under some pretense or other seize them.
The entire absence OF any armed vessel OF
the United States in those waters to pro-
tect our fishermen in the exercise OF lawful
commerce led Mr.. Dawes to inquire whether
that absence was from anv lack OF proper
power in the premises.
In reply Mr.. Edmunds SAID no legislation
WAS necessary, unless it might be by ap-
preparation of money, and hardy that, to
enable the President of the United States,
who is the commander-in-chief OF our
armies and navies, TO send out any vessel
OF the e. tied States if we happened to
have one that could swim. Mr.. Edmunds
presumed it would not be considered dis
courteous to express the hope that a ship
OF the United States Government would IN
due time appear in the northern seas at a
proper and respectful distance from the
shores Of Her Majesty's Dominion, to give
some little encouragement to American
citizens engaged in lawful pursuits.
Mr.. Hale stated the circumstances that
gave rise to the dispatch received from
EastDort relating to the orders said to
have been issued by the Canadian authorl-
ties affecting the herring fisheries. VI the
Canadian people themselves and their bus
mess in herrings with the people OF Name
this matter seemed to Mr.. Hale to be the
grossest thing that had appeared on the
horison. Ii the rumor was correct that the
Canadian authorities had given directions
to break up that industry OF their own
people in the course they were pursuing, it
Indicated more profound mischief than had
haut, kD,y,t { fnxr
he done by the State Department that
would bring to the knowledge not only OF
fishermen OF Maine an massachusetts, but
OF the people of the United States just what
the fundamental purpose OF the Ottawa
government was, should have been given
10 our p ople. No question had been be-
lore the State Department for some time
ina, was more grave and OF more moment
than this question.
On the suggestion OF Mr.. Dolph, who de-
deslres to be absent for a few days, the
Northern Pacific F, rfeiture bill was post
roned till Monday next,
Oo motion OF MIR. Edmunds the bill in.
aemnifying the Chinese for losses sustained
III Rock Springs, Wyoming, WAS taken up,
and Mr.. Mitchell addressed the Senate at
length against any legal or moral obl'ga-
uons o pay the money provi ed for i'll this
Al tiiC Soilsc VI IcuId Nd ilC ShsAA
acterized the bill as an insult to A-erica n
citizens. The bill was then laid aside and
the bill providing For the taxation OF rail-
road grant lands was taken up. MIR. Plumb,
Wme sympathizing with the purpose OF Mr.
Hoars amendment limiting the purchases
uhder the act to GAO acres, feared it would
elhharass the operations OF the bill, and
suggested that Mr.. Hoar withdraw his
amendment and embody it in h separate
p1i with the proper detailed provisions, in
"hich form Mr.. Plumb would support it.
Mr.. Hoar not wishing to embarrass the
OH withdrew his amendment. After con.
SIDERABLE debate the bill Was passed.
Mr. Van Wyck then called up the House
olli on the same subject, and on his motion
'he Committee On Publ c Lands was dis
..iharged ir''m it's further consideration. He
.neh moved the Senate bill as an amend
nleht IN the nature OF substitute to the
nouse bill. The motion was agreed to anc
Iue House bill was amended accordingly
~ ~ me dlsasrering votes Of the two Houses
sIus ot brought about the Senate, on motor
~ Mr.. Van Wyck, ordered Committee o
TtIohlerence. tI This has the effect OF avoidin,
sia s.. neay which would result from the con
rsuera'lon OF the Senate bill as an origina
,p;oposltlon in the House OF Representa-