Evening journal., 1896-01-13
THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
The Time VIII Mainly Be Con-
sumed In Speechmaking.
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY DISPUTE
1he Senate Committee on Foreign Reia-
tions May Report Upon It-Chairman
Davis Holds That England's Claim Is
Not a Subject Tor Arbitration.


Davis Holds That Englands Claim Is
Not a Subject Tor Arbitration.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.-Tho greater
part Of the time Of the senate during the
present week will be consumed in the dis
cussion Of the finance committees silver
substitute for the bond bill. Senator Nor
gan will lead OFF with a speech this after
noon, and Senators Daniel and Dubois
have also given notice Of speeches. Vari
Gus other senators are known 10 be pre-
pnred 90 take the floor either in advocacy
Of or opposition 20 the substitute. The
probabilities are all against securing a
vote on the measure dux5ng the week.
Tho bill is ono which unfer any circum-
stances would call forth many set speeches
and much animated talking which would
render IL impossible 70 reach a conclusion
after only one weeks debate
Tho Gdvocttes of the bill also have a
special reason in this instance for desiring
Il temporary delay. Approaching the close
margin on the vote, they are desirous that
the Utah senators, of whose support they
feel confident, should be in their seats
when the vote is taken. They would prob
ably not resort to dilatory tactics to secure
this delay further than TO make sure that
there are speeches enough TO consume the
time In what may be designated as legiti-
mate debate There are several other ques-
tions of minor Importance on the senate
calendar, which will receive attention dur
ing the morning hour each day.
Alaskan boundary Dispute.
Senator Davis of the committee on for
eign relations has been giving considera-
bic attention to the Alaskan boundary
dispute. He has found nothing in his in
vestigations which would cause him to
change the lines which have always been
understood as the boundary and upon
which both countries have been proceed
ing for many years. He says that the on
ly question in dispute is whether the ten
marine leagues from the ocean meant from
the mainland or from the adjacent islands.
Mr. Davis says that this does not even
present "a case for arbitration, because it
is manifcstly plain that the shore of the
mainland of the continent is the basis Of
the true line. 1t is also evident from the
selection of the mountain range as a line
that the men who drew tho boundary
agreement meant that the line should be
ten leagues from the ocean where 1t touch
ed the mainland. Islands, he says, always
go with the shore, and whom "a question
arises as 60 whether an Island, no matter
TO one country or another, it goes always
to the country owning the mainland If
the mainland Is adjacent SO II is with
the Islands Of the Alaskan archipelago.
They became the property of Russia be-
cause Russia owned the mainland Of the
shore and became the property of the Unit
cd States when Alaska was sold TO this
country.
The desire of Great Britain for portion
of the Alaskan coast is plainly apparent,
declares Senator Davis, when IL is consid-
cred that there Is n vast country in the
northwest territory which can reach the
seabonrl only through pass in the north
Rocky mountains and thence across the
strip of land owned by the United States
A Vast Tract of Good Lnnd.
East OF the Rocky mountains and east
of the Alaskan coast Is a country of al
most incstimable extent known as the
Peace river country. There may DC 10O,-
900, 900 acres Of tillablc pastoral ground
there. IL has the benefit of the warm air
currents from the Pacific, which mako a
mildcr climate than in those portions of
the northwest territory still farther east.
II is desired by Great Britain 20 open up
this great wheat and stock producing
country and secure a short route to the
N1As "A NIulII AA NIt A0lMANlun I|NNAll
road could be built through this Peace
river region and by a pass through the
mountains reach the sea coast without
much trouble and by much shorter haul
than by railroads further south. This
would give the Canadian Pacihc another
western terminus would build up a Brit
ish city right upon the flank Of the Alas
kan possession of the United States; there
would be another great naval station and
a military post commanding our Alaskan
territory, and the protection which the
Alaskan coast now gives to this country
would be largely nullifled The object OF
/ Grcat Britain is quite plain. Upon the
| great fertile lnnds to be opened by build
ing a road TO the coast through the Peace
river region there would be vast fields of
cereals competing with the grains raised
IN our states along our northern border.
At present these fields cannot be opened
nor the lands developed because Of the
long rail haul TO the terminus Of the Ca.
madam Pacific road without another ter
minus in Alaska these great fields cannot
be opened without the consent of the
/ United States. senator Davis does not
think this government will over seriously
consider the question of arbitrating the
Alaskan boundary.
Routine business In the House.
The week in the house will be devoted
70 routine matters. As soon as the consid-
Grafton Of the rules is completed the pen
sion appropriation bill will be taken up
As quito number Of mombers desire to
! be heard on various matters connected
with the administration of the pension of
fico and various proposed reforms therein
it has been decided TO allow ample time
for dobate. and IL Is not believed that the
bill win be disposed of before Thursday.
Tho appropriations committee has no 9th
or bin ready, and the remainder Of the
week will De devoted TO such other mat
ters as may be brought up.