Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-09
Congressional Committees Meet and
Decide on Action.
CHAIRMAN HlTrS SUBCOMMlYTEES
Bill to Prohibit PeIagic Sealing to
Be Pushed.
TIL E TW Ell Eth CEN SUS

meeting today and outlined its line of
work on the several important foreign
questions now pending. Chairman Hit an
nounced the following subcommittee to deal
with Cuban affairs: Adams of Pennsyl-
vania, Heatwole of Minnesota and Berry
Of Kentucky. The subcommittee to con-
slider Hawaiian affairs is Hit of Illinois,
Smith of Michigan and Dinsmore of Ar
kansas.
The committee determined to report at
once the bill prohibiting American citizens
from conducting pelagic sealing in Bering
sea, and an understanding was reached that
the bill would be pushed to final passage
before the holidays. 1t was also deter
mined that the members of the committee
would call in body on the Secretary of
State tomorrow at IL O'Clock
Much interest was shown in the initial
meeting OF the committee, 1t was felt 1t
might bring an indication of the general
line of policy toward Cuba and the otner
subjects before it. Except, however IN the
announcement OF the Cuban and Hawaiian
subcommit.ees, no reference was made to
either of these subjects, as all of the time
of the committee was given to the question
OF sealing in Bering sea. On this question
considerable discussion occurred, which
showed a general sentiment toward re-
stricting American sealers only in case
Great Britain adopted the same restric-
tions.
Mr. Adams asked number of questions
in this line, his purpose being to show tnat
the United States was placing limitations
On its own citizens while other nations
were free to conduct poaching operations at
Will. To this, however, the answer was
made that the express purpose of the gov
eminent in securing this legislation was to
take away the last ground of objection
which other nations offered against the
complete Suspension of pelagic sealing. AL
though the determination of the seal nerd
was not discussed at length, ii was re-
ferred to as one of the measures which
might have to be resorted to if a general
agreement to stop pelagic sealing was not
reached.
The committee found plenty of material
before it on all the important foreign ques-
tions. These were in the form of bills and
resolutions, submitted during the extra
session. but which could not be considered
at that time as the committee had not been
appointed.
On Cuba all the phases of the subject
were represented in the measures pre-
sented. The most important of these was
the Morgan joint resolution, which passed
the Senate at the extra session and was
now referred to this committee. 1t recoS-
nizes a state of war as existing between
Sp;,in and the Cuban insurgents, and de-
clares that the United States will main
tain strict neutrality between the two bel
ligerentS.
For Hawaiian Annexation.
The annexation of Hawaii is proposed in
various propositions before the committee.
Mr.. Sulzer has bill making Hawaii
territory, assuming the Hawaiian debt up
to 100000, and providing for five COM
missioncrs to recommend plan of govern
Eent for the island. Mr.. King of Utah
has bill on the same lines. Mr.. Spalding
of Michigan proposes the creation of
Hawaii as a state of the Union, with one
representative in Con for the
Among the other subjects before the COM
mittee are those for an investigation of the
consular and diplomatic system, as proposed
by Mr. Mccall of Massachusetts; author
iZing the President to call conference at
Washington to secure general acceptance of
the Monroe doc ctrine, proposed by MI. Beach
of Ohio; tnqutring into the status of the
restrictions on building or maintaining war
ships on the great lakes. proposed by Mr..
Smith of Michigan; authorizing the Presi-
dent to arrange an international conference
to settle boundary disputes. proposed by
Mr.. Barrett of Massac huSetts; proposing a
conference of American republics to adopt
arbitration and to extend commercial re-
lations, proposed by Mr.. Smith of Michi-
gan; asking the Secretary Of State to de-
mand of Russia full passport rights for
Hebrew-American citizens, proposed by Mr.
Fitzgerald.
These measures were referred to subcom-
mittees today, and for the present they
form nucleus of action on foreign sub
jects.
Reor2anixing Indian Territory.
The work of preparation of the Indian
appropriation bill will be begun Immediate
ly in the House committee on Indian affairs
and probably the bill will be reported 20
the House early in January. There are
many important matters before it, but
everything now will give way to the ap-
preparation bill. The most important SUBJ
jects are the vexatious problems in the
Indian territory, involving the reorganiZa-
tion of the territory in matters relating to
the Indians. The Dawes Indian commits
sion Is now negotiating with the five tribes,
and some important legislation along the
lines OF the negotiations has been planned.
The commission will be summoned here
shortly by the Secretary of the Interior, it
Will be deferred. pending the appearance
OF the commission before it to explain the
situation there and to make recommended
tions. So far only two tribes have ratified
the commissions agreements. These are
the Choctows and Chickasaws. and the
agreements made with the Cherokees and
creeks have been rejected. The Seminolas
also have not taken any favorable action
and. in view of the general Disappointing
outlook, arbitrary legislation Is expected TO
be enacted to accomplish what overtures
on the part of the government have failed
to do.
The condition of affairs in Indian Terri
tory formed the principal topic of con-
sideratlon by the Senate committee on In
dian affairs at its meeting today, and a
subcommittee, consisting of Senators Pet
tigrew, Platt and Jones of Arkansas was
appointed to take up all the questions in
volved In the government of this territory
The committee was authorized to prepare
bill to meet the situation.
The opinion of the committee was quite
unanimous that the condition of affairs is
so serious as to demand immediate at
tention, and several members expressed
the opinion that the Indians who are rep
resented as strenuously contending for their
treaty rights, have long since forfeited
whatever rights they may have ever DOS
sessed under their agreements with the
government of the United States
The House committee also began its in
vestigation of the vexed problems in In
dian territory today. 1t was a long ses-
SIGN, and the result was call for the
Dawes commission and all others interest,"
ed to appear before 1t next Thursday Be
fore the discussion over the territorial
troubles began two subccmmittees were
appointed. Messrs. Sherman of New 6ork.
Curtis of Kansas, Fischer of New York.
Little Of Arkansas and Lewis of Georgia
were named as the subcommittee on the
Indian appropriation bill. and Messrs. Cur
tbs, Fischer, Little, Lacey Of Iowa and