The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-12-24
AID FOR Starving MINERS
Both Houses Vote for Relief
Appropriations.
VOTE ALMOST UNANIMOUS
House Bill Appropriates S175,Ooo and
the Senate Bill $3.50, O,OOO-Secretary
of War Given Full Control.

the Senate Bill $3.50, ,OOO-Secretary
of War Given Full Control.
Washington, Dec. 18.-Congress has
needed the petition of Portland, Or,
for an appropriation 70, transportation
of supplies to the starving Klondikers.
The bill which passed the house appro-
PIRATES $175, 900, and the senate resolu-
tion $250,00O. It will be necessary be-
fore either becomes a law. for congress
to get together on common basis.
The house bill encountered practical
ly no opposition. AS passed, the sum
carried by it is to be expended under
the direction of the secretary Of war
tribution of subsistence stores. 1t pro-
vides that these subsistence stores may
be sold at prices fixed by the secretary
of war, or donated where the people are
unable to pay for them. 1t empowers
him to purchase reindeer and employ
drivers not citizens of the United
States, and allows him to dispose OF
the reindeer.
Representative Cannon brought for
spoke in favor of it. Cannon submit
ted to the house statement prepared
by DR.. Sheldon Jackson, one of the
agents of the commissioner of educa-
ton, who was in the region as late as
September Is, that there would be nc
suffering as far up the river as Fort
Yukon, but that the food supply on the
Upper Yukon would not last beyond
March, and he Endorsed the recommen-
dation of the secretary of war that food
be sent in by reindeer via Dyea.
Cannon said:
"Whether these miners are in Ameri.
can or British territory, whether they
are American or British subjects, if
they are starving, it does not become
the American congress to hesitate about
voting them relief"
The bill was passed without division,
although there were scattering noes
when the speaker called for the 1fega.
tive vote.
Secretary Alger was on the floor dur.
ing the debate.
Hawley, of the military affairs COM
mittee, reported to the senate the Nc
Bride relief resolution. The committee
struck out all but the enacting clause,
and amended the resolution by appro'
priating $3.50, 900, which is to be used
by the secretary of war for the purchase
of subsistence and supplies and for theil
Transportation and distrlubtion, the con.
sent of the Canadian government first
to be obtained to pass over Canadian
territory. The resolution further pro-
vided that the supplies are to be dis.
tributed among the needy miners as the
secretary of war may determine, and
that the supplies are to be transported
by means of reindeer, the reindeer to
be sold after they have performed their
service.
Hawley asked for immediate consid-
Grafton of the resolution, and it was
adopted.
Secretary Alger, in anticipation of
immediate action by congress, has be-
gun to prepare plans for carrying out
the intent of the bill. To this end,
this afternoon he sent telegram to
General Merriam, commanding the de-
partment of the Columbia, at Van
couver barracks, directing him to send
two or three competent officers of the
army to Dyea and vicinity to recon
noiter and report to the department
how supplies can be sent across the
passes to Dawson.
Sent to the Senate.
Washington, Dec. 18.-The president
today sent the following nominations to
the senate: Joseph McKenna, to be
associate justice of the supreme court
Of the United States; Charles G..