The morning call., 1891-03-15
RUHAMAH'S LETTER
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Close Of the Session Of the Fiity-f
Congress.
Bills Rushed Through at the Last Moment,
Help for the Citizens of Alaska-Society
in the Lenten Season.


WASHINGTON, March 6, 1S9l.-After thir-
teen months of actual work, as included in
its two sessions, the Fifty-first Congress is
| dead, but not gone. A full quorum of either
| house fingers here to finish up the odds and
| ends of business, 10 put their affairs in shape
for the long vacation, or the inGe il ite leave,
which so many statesmen are 10 enjoy. The
| cauldron began to seethe and bubble last
| week, and from Monday morning until
| Wednesday noon rs much business was dis
! patched rs usually requires month at any
| other time. Measures were rushed through,
| amendments tackled on, and many good
! cause saved at the last second Weary and
sleepy men were willing 10 concede almost
anything that last night session, and COM
| laiSance, common sense and fair play were
! more conspicuous at the ELEVENTH hour
than before. Affairs that might Just as well
have passed in tie same form two months
| ago finally went through, and with their sue
| cess, those most interested in these ques-
| tons are not inclined to further criticize or
| cherish any ili-feelingS to the deceased Con-
gress.
| Alaska has at last won a part Of the
recognition it has been so long seeking; and
| with land laws that permit its struggling
| communities 10 enter town sites, the owners
| of canneries, trading and manufacturing
| establishments now established to purchase
| their sites in tracks of 160 acres at the rate
| OF 81 so an acre, mission stations being
allotted tracks of $40 acres, Mr.. Duncan and
his Metlakatlah Indians secured in their
| possession of
ANNETTE ISLAND
And pending timber suits annulled if the
defendants can prove that the timber was
used for necessary purposes within the
| Territory-Alaska Is jubilant With such
rights accorded them the Alaskans may now
progress and prosper, and. the entering
wedge being driven, other necess ary legsla-
ton VIII not be long delayed. Citizens may
own their homes and insurance companies
Will take risks on them; town lots may be
bought, and sold, and real estate may
be doomed With all that. the com
ing sumner will do for it, Alaska
may confidently expect to have its delegate
recognized by another Congress and a new
code and political system given it. Captain
James Carroll, who acted as representa-
tive for the Alaska people, worked early
and late all OF this session to accomplish
what lie could for his constituents. When
the first bill, to grant full Teri itoria horm
OF government to Alaska and secure tue
other rights of its people, was doomed, and
substitute bill fingered in committee
rooms, all efforts were concentrated on the
clauses OF tue General Land Bill and at
the last moment these endangered clauses
were saved by good generalship. The mas
ter mariner, who worked so ably for his
constituents, leaves the Capital triumphant
and ought 10 be received with bOnfires ana
bell-ringings al each Alaska town and set
Element when he returns there. Before
starting northweStward that salt and breezy
parsonage goes to Boston, where banquet
and reception is to be rendered him by
Alaskan eXcRrSinniStS of the past two sea-
sons TO the number of three hundred.
Senator Plat, Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Territories, with ub H.
mitiee OF his colleagues, will visit Alaska
this summer to see the country for them
selves, look into affairs, investigate the ac-
tual condition, and judge better just what
form of Territorial governments best suited
to that peculiar country. The committee
will leave Puget Sound
EARLY IN JUNE
And devote the best part of two months to
their investigations. They wish to visit the
mining districts, to see the saw-mlls can
neries and oil works, to inspect the mission
stations and schools, and hear every side of
opinion on the present condition of affairs.
Such contradictory and confusing state
ments have been made to the committee that
they anticipate season of unusual interest
in proving or dispT0ying such testimony.
Besid' these Con re 'siona " sitors Alaska
Will reccve unusual attention at the hands
OF the scientific corps OF tue Government.
ITOleSSOr Menuennal, Cnle1 OF the coast
Survey, will himself go on the Patterson
for season of active work. The British
Columbia boundary line promises soon to be
an important international question, and the
coast survey began work on its northern
half two seasons ago. This year the other
side viii be attacked and Mount ST.
Elias VIII have to yield up its secrets,
acknowledge its actual height, take one
place on the map, aud stay there. Major
Powell will send field party from the
Geologic al Survey 10 the sa ne REG n,3and
there Is every promise that we will know
much more about the great Territoryfby an-
other session of Congress. The bill appr0-
printing 100000 for establishing mill
tary post on the Yukon, for the purpose of
exploring, mapping and making geological
and meteorological surveys of that ri.gon,
failed to pass the House. h. economists
there viewed it as an extravaganza. and
thought that the regular corps of biologists
and topographers of the Geological Survey
could accomplish the same ends at less
cost. Alaska has every reason to feel salts
lied with what the present Congress has
done Tor it, and with its land laws, a pros
porous tourist season, and the visits of so
many Government officials and expeditions
10 enjoy, this will be its red letter summer
season.
AT ITS LAST GASP
The Senate passed the International Copy
right Bill without the obnoxious Sherman
amendment and the Copyright League,
composed of American authors, who banded