Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-01-07
THE FlFTY-HlRsr ConGnEss.

THE FlFTY.FlRsT CONGRESS.
Notable Procecdlngs In she senate
Getting AFTER tho Alaska CONNER
clal Company-Gefmanyss Mortgage
WAsHINaToN, Jan. 6.
SENATE.-Among the bills offered was the
following: By Mr.. Hale-For the appoint
ment and retirement Of John G. Fremont as
major general in the United States army.
(The bill that passed the Senate last Con-
gress.) By Mr.. Chandler Proposing an
amendment to the constitution so that il any
State shall fail to enact or efectually enforce
laws against murder and other felonies, Con-
gress may provide for Furnishing these
crimes within such State.
Mr.. Plumb offered the following resolution,
which was laid on the table for further
acsion:
Whereas, the Secretary Of the Treasury
has by public advertisement invited bids for
leasing the islands of st. Paul and st.
George, In the territory of Alaska, for
period of twenty years; and,
Whereas, the law under which said pro-
POsaA ID 1ss0oO Was passed 6Uous GWsAsy
years ago, and the circumstances and con-
ditions existing in Alaska and with reference
to the seal industry have materially changed
during that period; and,
Whereas. II has been charged upon the
authority of the late governor Of Alaska, that
the Alaska Commercial company now occu-
plying said islands under lease from the gov
eminent has exercised its privileges oppres-
sively and against the interests of both the
ne nh ho oavoto nd
Whereas, Said company claims that 1t is
the only person OF organization which can
successfully compete for the lease invited az
aforesaid, and there is every reason to be-
lieve under present legislation and condi-
tions the lease proposed will be made to
said Alaska Commercial company substan-
italy without omEatition, therefore,
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treas
ury be requested not to make a new lease of
said islands until further action by Congress,
or until the latest period made necessary by
existing law, and that meanwhile he make
full report to the Senate as to the manner in
which the said Alaska Commercial company
had discharged its duties and obligations un-
der the present lease, and also what addi-
der that the interests Of the government and
those of the natives and citizens of Alaska
may be more fully protected.
Mr.. Call offered long preamble and reso-
luton in regard to the island Of Cuba and
asked for immediate action. 1t states that
there is reason to believe that the debt of
that island as consolidated by the decree of
the Queen of Spain of May 10th, 1886,
($124, ZOO, 600 at 6 per cent? is now In the
hands Of German bankers and subject to the
control. more or less actual and direct, of the
government of the German empire; that by
a subsequent decree dated November 10th,
1886 such debt ives converted into a new
one bearing LEES interest, but for larger
amount and is subject to the same condi-
tions and guarantees; that this debt is &C.
cured by special mortgage of the customs
revenue to the island of Cuba and of all
taxes, direct or indirect; that under the ordi-
nary course of events and the financial con-
dition Of both Cuba and Spain it is more
than probable that neither Cuba nor Spain
will be able to meet their obligations and to
pay either principal or interest when they
become due; that under these circumstances
and for all practical purposes the political as
we'll a. the financial control of the island of
Cuba has been transferred to the government
of the German empire; that the immediate
consequence of such state of affairs is an
alliance between Spain and Germany, nos
less binding and powerful because of its
being unwritten, whereby the German gov
eminent becomes interested in asaisting Spain
to perpstuate her sovereignty in Cuba, thus
interfering VIII CQ6 DlbtOEIca1 ldWh AuU pElucl.
pies which must rule in the American hemis-
phere; that such q condition of things Is not
only contrary to the traditional policy of the
United States and to it's most
cherished tenets, but constitutes q menace to
the beat interests of the United States, as
we'll as the best interests of the whole sister
hood of American republics, and the resolu-
ton therefore declares that in the sense of
the Senate everything done or attempted in
the Island of C1ba, tending in any way
whatever to transfer the financial and polit-
ioal control of Cuba to any European power,
is contrary to the policy and to the best in-
terests of the United States and must be
discountenanced and protested against. It
also requests the President to furnish to the
Senate such information as may be in pos
session OF the State department. in regard to
| the matter, 30 as to enable the Senate in ite
| executive capacity or otherwise, to take such
| action as may be deemed proper under the
circumstance.
The resolution was referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Dawes offered . resolution, which was
agreed to, calling on the postmaster general
for information as to the proposed connec.
ton of the postofice department with the
telegraph companies and as to the probable
cost of the erection of a government indie
pendent telegraph line between the cities Of
st. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia and New
| York