The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-19

Washington, Dec. 1S.-The senate
passed a joint resolution providing for
the expenditure of $4,000 more than
originally intended upon the govern
ment building at the trans Mississippi
exposition at Omaha, Neb., that $4,000
be appropriated for a building at the
exposition for a display of the life
saving service and that the cost of the
government display be reduced from
$4,000 to $1S7 800, the entire cost of the
government buildings at the exposition
to be $29.5OO.
Mr.. Cullom, of Illinois, secured the
adoption of a resolution asking the
heads of the several departments of
the government what positions in their
departments ought in their opinion be
excepted from the operation of the
civil service and what changes or medi-
fications in the law ought to made.
STATUS OF INDIANS.
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, secured the
adoption of a resolution calling for the
secretary of the interior of a report to
the senate of the present status of the
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations in
the Indian territory, of the freemen of
tons and also his suggestions and re-
concentrations as to the further legis-
latiOn properly to adjust their status
and settle their just claims.
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska introduced
resolution, which was passed, directing
the postmaster general to inform the
senate of all railway and steamship
mail contracts made by the United
States now in force.
Mr. White Of California T1raSantp6 a
resolution which was agreed to calling
on the president to inform the senate
what action has been taken in behalf
of ]. K. Spring and Charles W. Nelson,
citizens of California, held as prisoners
in the republic of Colombia.
Mr.. Kyle of South Dakota introduced
and had passed a resolution calling on
the secretary of state for all papers
from the Haytian government relating
to Bernard Campbell.
On motion of Mr.. Hale of Maine, the
senate then, at 12:45 p. M went into
executive session.
KLONDIKE RELIEF.
During the executive session, the, con-
ference report upon the bill providing
relief for the KlOndike miners was re-
ceived and adopted. The bill appro-
PIRATES 100000 to be expended under
the direction of the secretary of war
in the purchase of supplies for the re-
lief of the people in the Yukon river
country or other mining regions of
Alaska, and for the transportation and
distribution of such supplies provided
that if the consent of the Canadian
government be obtained the secretary
of war may extend the relief into
Canadian territory.
The resolution further provides that
the supplies may be sold in that region
at such prices as may be fixed by the
secretary of war or donated to those
unable to pay for them
The secretary of war is authorized
to use the United States army in carry
ing into effect the provisions of the
act to import reindeer and drivers for
the transportation of the supplies and
to adopt such other provisions as are
practicable.
The secretary is directed, when the
work shall have been completed, to
sell the reindeer or turn them over to
the secretary Of the interior. in his dis
erection, and to make a detailed report
to congress at the beginning of the
next session of all disbursements made
and results accomplished under the act.
At , >. m, the senate adjourned I'M
til Wednesday, Jan. ..