Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-23
debated.


Washington, Dec. 15.--The senate
enjoyed an interesting debate upon
the bill presented by the foreign re.
iations committee providing for pro-
! hlbltion of pelagic sealing by Amer
leans. The provisions of the measure
were explained by Mr. Davis, chair
nan of the committee, who said it
was in aid of the negotiations now
| pending among representatives of the
! governments of the United States.
/ Great Britain, Russia and Japan. Mr..
Pettigrew rep, S. d. sharply an
tagonized the measure. saying that
| this country had already suffered
more than enough humiliation on ac-
count of the seal business and that he
favored a settlement of the question
by killing all seals, as they appearG
at the rookeries OF the Pribylom
islands, If by the first of June next
Great Britain also had not agreed to
a prohibition of pelagic sealing. He
then ordered an amendment to that
effect. After further debate this
amendment was defeated and the bill
passed, 81 to IA.
Mr.. Mcbride rep, Ore.) endeavored
to secure the adoption of his resolution
directing the secretary of war o sup
ply relief to the suffering miners in
the Klondike region and appropriaGug
$3.50 900 for that purpose. The resolu-
ton was amended so that supplies
might be transported by means OF
reindeer. Mr.. Mcbride consented Tin
ally that the resolution should be re-
committed to the military affairs com
mittee. and guaranteed that it
would be promptly reported.
Washington, Dec. 15.-Ihe house
spent the day in consideration or the
legislative, executive and judicial APP
preparation bill Elghty-nine of the
.112 pages of the bill were covered and
only one amendment of Importance
was adopted, That reduced the cler-
ical force at the pension office 20,
involving a reduction of $4,000 IN
salaries. The civil service question
was the chief topic OF discussion ano
the proposition of assistant secretary
of the treasury, Vanderllp, 10 rcIire
clerks for age was maze the text OF
denuuciation by Mr.. Moody Crep,
Mass Mr.. Moody who is one OF the
defenders of the civil service law
called attention to what he termed
the extraordinary proposition au-
vacated by the assistant secretary Oh
the treasury in an interVie" puDllsheu
Wednesday morning. In the inter-
view MIR. Moody said Vanderlip pro-
nose6 to establish in the treasury ue-
nartment what in effect Wouid De "
civil pension list. AS one OF lhoSe
who believed in the merit system, ne
+nought that congress ought to meet
,his nroposition at the threshold II
this system which we support ~
lead To the establishment OF CIV"
nansion list" sad he impressiVely'
athen the people ought to wipe II OUT
of existence" general applause As
friend of civil service reform, sald
he II say it's worst enemies are not
those who are fighting it in the open
like Mr.. Grosvenor, but men like the
author of this proposition who sits III
the cabinet by the side of President
Mckinley" (appause) Mr. Johnson
Crep., Ind) thought that NanderLlp's
proposition violated the spirit ana
letter OF the law. Mr.. Johnson held
that the government was not con-
Quoted for the purpose of providing
for men in their old age They
should do as others did-proyide for
a rainy day. Finally the debate sub
sided. Mr. Dearmond (dem. MOI re
proached the majority for not voting
upon the Cuban belligorency reso
luton passed by the senate at the last
season. His remarks were given added
importance in view Of the action
of the democratic caucus declaring
for an aggressive support of recog.
milton Of Cuban belligerency,