The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-16
Senate Passed Bill To That Effect
Yesterday.
BILL TO RELIEVE KLONDIKE
MINERS RECOMMITTED.

Gauntlet uf House,
Washington, December l5.-Ihe pro-
ceedings of the Senate were enlivened
today by an interesting debate upon the
bill presented by the foreign relations
committee providing for the prohibition
of pelagio sealing by Americans. The
provisions of the measure were explained
by MIR. Davis, chairman of the commit
tee, who said 1t was In aid OF negotia-
tions now pending among the represen-
tatives of the governments of the United
States Great Britain, Russia and Japan.
Mr.. Pettigrew sharply antagonized the
measure saying that this country had al
ready suffered more than enough hllmili-
alton on account of the seal business and
that he favored the settlement of the
question by killing all of the seals, if by
the first of June next, Great Britian
also had not agreed to the prohibition
of pelagic sealing. He offered an amend
ment to that effect, but it was defeated.
The bill was passed by a vote of 81 to
IA.
Mr.. Mcbride Of Oregon endeavored to
secure the adoption of his resolution d.
recting the Secretary of War to apply re-
lief to the suffering miners in the Klon-
dixie region and appropriating $3.50, 900
for that purpose, but the bill was recon-
mitted. The session closed with spirited
debate on civil service bill presented by
the census committee providing for the
appointment of director of the census
and 80 employees who should form the
skeleton of an office force for the twelfth
census. Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts
made an extended speech advocating the
application of the civil service law to
the census office employees.
Mr.. Chandler of the committee of naval
affairs OF the Senate, today reported to
the Senate favorably, a bill directing the
Secretary of the Navy to consider tho re-
port upon the subject of statue in
Washington city of the late Admiral
David D. Porter. The bill was passed.
Among the many bills introduced was
one by Mr.. Faulkner of West Virginia,
granting right of way through q part
and another by Mr.. Frye of Maine, pro-
viding for the operation Of steamboats, on
the Yukon river, Alaska. ~
Mr.. Gallinger of New Hampshire, Sc
cured the adoption of a resolution direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to
transmit to Congress all correspondence
regarding the legal right of collectors of
tants and also the correspondence with
the civil service commission relating to
the right of the commission to review
appointments made by such collectors.
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska presented reso-
luton requesting the President, if not
Incompatible with the interests of the
governments to send to Congress the in
structions given to the international
monetary commissioners, the reports they
have made and the correspondence relat-
ing to the subject. The resolution went
over until tomorrow
The :. concurrent resolution adopted by
the House providing for recess of Con-
gress from Saturday, December IS, 1897 to
Wednesday, January 5, 1928, was laid
before the Senate and referred to the COM
mites on appropriations.
At the request of Mr.. Mills of Texas,
a speech in civil service reform delivered
by MIR. S. S. Cox in the House in 1878,
was ordered printed as document.
Mr.. Mcbride of Oregon, called up his
resolution authorizing the Secretary of
War to purchase food and supplies and to
transport such supplies as may be offered
for the relief of the American miners
river and appropriating 5000, 0O0 to defray
the necessary expenses. An amendment
to the resolution providing for the trans
portation of the supplies by means of
reindeers was adopted.
Mr.. Hawley of the committee on mill
tary affairs, expressed the hope that the
resolution might be referred to his COM
mittee as the matter concerning the aid
ing of the Yukon miners was under con-
sideratiOn bv that committee,
Mr.. Cockrel of Missouri, thought 1T
strange that the government should have
to pay for supplies sent to the k1ondiAe
miners, when, as he understood, the
miners were perfectly able and willing to
pay for such supplies. He was of the
establish.
Mr.. Hawley then moved that the reso-
luton be referred to committee on mill
tary affairs, promising that it should have
prompt consideration.
Mr.. Mcbride consented to the reference
Of the resolutions. 1t was therefore re-
ferred.
MIR. Davis called up the bill prohibit
ing the killing of fur seals In the waters
Of the North Pacific ocean and presented
letters from Secretary Sherman and Sec
retary Gage favoring the immediate pas
sage of the measure. Mr.. Davis explained
that the bill was in aid of furthering
u1plomatlc NEGOTIATIONS. he pointed out
that there was now no law prohibiting
pelaRic sealing and that this shameful
admission had to be made by the repre-
sentatives of the United States in their
with other countries look
Ing to suspension of such sealing.
Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota entered
a sharp protest against the passage of the
bill, because it deprived Americans of
privileges accorded to people Of other
countries. The United States had suffered
enough humiliation on account of the
seal business and he believed that the
bill ought to be amended so that if Great
Britain did mot provide by June first
next for the suspension of pelaQic sealing,
this country would kill all the seals and
thus settle the question once for all He
offered an amendment in line with his
remarks.
Mr.. Davis protested against the adop-
ton of Mr.. Pettigrew S amendment. He
deemed it unwise to embarrass negotia
tions now pending by such a threat as
the amendment proposed implied.
= Mr.. Perkins of California thought the
adoption of the amendment would be
an evidence of impotence.
Mr.. Pettigrew expressed the opinion
that the adoption of the amandnapt