, 1889-01-30
Washington Notes.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The Oates
naturalization bill was abandoned to-day
by the house committee on judiciary. 1t
was found that to withhold the rights of
citizenship five years would in connection
with the alien land act operate to pre-.
vent an emierant from purchasing a home
or farm for himself until the end OF that
period. A new bill will be presented by
Oates at the next meeting of the com
mittee.
The committee on ways and means this
morning referred the tariff bill and senate
amendments TO the treasury department,
in order to secur computations as to the
effect on the Tevenue of the proposed
changes in the present law.
Representative Morrow of California
to-day introduced for reference the follow
ing Joint resolution:
ReSoired, That the present condition of
affairs at Samoa requires that this govern
ment should aid the people of those
islands in securing an Independent native
government free from the claims OF terri
torial jurisdiction OF any European power,
and to the end that this purpose may be
speedily and effecrually accomplished
the president of the United Sta'es
is hereby requested to insist on
the restoration of affairs on said
islands as the same existed at the time OF
the convention between the representa-
tlves OF the government of Germany,
Grelt Britain and the United States, held
in the City OF Washington in June and
July, 1887; that he further aid in secur-
ing IA settlement of pending difficulties at
Samoa on a satisfactory and solid founda-
ton and in the restoration OF peace and
good order under a responsible native in
dependent government with a court OF
competent jurisdiction to determine land
titles and such other claims and contro-
versles of foreign residents as may be
properly cognizable by such court. and
that he take such further steps as may
be necessary to protect the rights of this
government and its citizens in said
islands.
Chairman Herbert Of the house com
mittee on naval affairs says that an
amendment will probably be offered to
the naval appropriation bill when it is
called up for consideration in the house,
appropriating 800, 900 for a coaling sta
ton at Pagopago. Herbert has not been
able to confer with all the members OF
the committee, but such as have been
spoken to are in favor of the amend.
ment.
The secret legislative session of the
senate was wholly occupied in the discus,
sion and voting upon the motion made by
Sherman to consider the Samoan amend.
ments with open doors. 1t was sup.
ported by Sherman, Evarts and Voorhees
and opposed by Edmunds and Morgan.
The vote upon the motion was yeas 26,
to nays "A. The merits of the amend
ments were not discussed. rhe division
was wholly outside Of party lines, about
an equal number of Republicans and
the question of opening the DOORS.
Col. Trenholm, comptroller OF the cur
rency, t o-day rendered his resignation
through the president, to take effect at
his pleasure.
Representative Dunn, from the com
mittee on merchant marine and fisheries,
to-day presented the results OF the invest
igations by the committee into the fur
seal fisheries of Alaska with special ref.
erence to whether the contract giving the
Alaska Commercial company the right to
take fur seals had been violated. Dunn
accompanied his report with a bill on the
subject. 1t proposes to amend the pres
ent law by providing that one year before
the present lease to the Alaska company
expires or when any future similar lease
expires the secretary of the treasury shall
lease to proper persons the right of taking
fur seals on the islands of St. Paul and
st. George for twenty years at not less
than $50, 900 per aunum.