Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-20
CONGRE SSlONAL.
Legislation Pertaining to the Interest
of the Pacific Coast.
sE NATE.

Among petitions presented was one
| by Blair, in favor of national pro
| hibitory amendment, and one by Hoar
against admission of Utah RS state
o long AS its power is in the hands OF
he Mormon priesthood.
Dawes, from the Committee on In
dian Affairs. reported bills to provide
for compulsory education OF Indian
children, and in relation to marriage
between white men and Indian women
Among the bills introduced were the
following:
By Dolph-To provide for payment
of claims for damages by Indian dep
relations. He said there were some
1900 such cl.ims aggregating some
$14 100000 or SIS 100000.
BY Hoar-To provide for a worlds
exposition at the national capital in
1892, and thereafter a permanent ex-
position of the three Americas in
honor Of the 400th anniversary of the
discovery OF America. Referred to
the select committee on centennial
celebrations.
BY Dawes--To establish postal
telegraph system.
BY Platt-For the formation and
admission into tho U.lion Of the State
OF North Dakota.
Mitchell called up the joint reso)u'
ton introduced by him for the ap
.,.,t, Zf IN onI..ct
site for a naval station on the Pacific
coast, addressed the Senate in advo
cacy Of it. 1t was referred to the
Naval Affairs Committee.
The Joint resolution makes it the
duty of the commission to examine
he coast north of the furty--econd
parallel OF north Latitude, in Oregon,
Washington and Alaska, and to selecl
suitable site, having due regard t.
he commercial and naval necessitie-
of that ,oa-t, for navy yard, and
make a full and d tailed report to the
8 cretary of the Navy, to he by hin,
reported to Congress. Mitchell said
that Will 58,OO0,O0O had been spent
for navy rds aud naval stations, Of
which am ,unt only 5 per cent. has
been expended west of the Allegheny
mountains, there was only one navy
yard on the coast. on which about 49,,
has been expended. Que establish
ment, no matter how we'll equipped
was wholly made quate &c meet the
wants of the country on the Pacific
ocean. He contrasLed he indifference,
or criminal neglect Of the United
States government on the subject Of
| naval establishment with the Care
given by the British, French, Russian
Itali IL and German governments t.
the building up of great naval estab
lishments 1t i, not safe To act on The
heory that this country could, when
ever occasion rose, provide for it. The
rapid environment of the Pacific coast
by important military and naval es
Establishments, representing British in
! fluence and British power, and military
, occupation by Great Britain of isl md
IN the Pacific ocean, was of itself \
subject which ought to arrest the AT
ten ion Of the American people, ano
BloulBb 'DC EoNCI w cttti o BCCuN
| and effective action as should be 4
| fitting response to this formidable ex
tension Of British power. The Who'll,
country, north and west, was in fact
environed AMI menaced by a Gordon
If British military aud naval establish
ments, nd by lines OF British railroad
| and steamships, which, in the even
of war between Great Britain and the
United States, would give the former
immense advantages. These forces
would fall with unimpeded and re
| lentless power upon the people, indus
tries and commerce of the northwest
ern Pacific coast Oregon Washington
and Alaska, with all their limilless
resources unprotected, would become
the sport and toy OF Great Britain.
Dolph said that Puget Sound pos
sessed all the advantages that coul,t
be found for frst-class naval station
The Importance of the subject should
not be underestima HIS colleagu,
had referred TO British influence in
the Hawaiian islands, but the United
States cannot permit those islands tc
pass under control of any European
power, because their possession by any
| modern naval power would give t.
that power control not only over TIL,
Pacific commerce of the Unitrd States
hut also over It's w,rld-w commerce
We cannot afford TO allow foreign cou.
quests and acquisitions to he carries,
o our very doors. II we do, we shall
ahdicate the position which our power
,ur indt pendence, our wealth and oul
location permit III to retain among the
nations of the earth.
The Joint resolution was r. rred I,
the Committee on Naval Affairs.