The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-31

NN1AAN avs - wv
gard TO The En,tn.lon of Trade With
Z China.
WASHINGTON. Dec, sa-Fhe senate
and house committees on public lands
apa on territories are at work On legla-
latlon for AlasGa, preparing the way for
action by the two houses. The matteE
has been ,alRed over In committees ana
there viii be some decisive action shortly
after the holiday recess, The chief nro5-
lem is to provide for n better govern
menl, Secretary Bliss recommended in
MS annual report that Alaska be made a
regular organize territory, The senti-
meut OF the committee IS that the time Is
not yet ripe, that the population practi-
cally dependent on the rich mining
strikes, is a rowing one and that even
towns having large population to-day
may BE- abandoned tomorrow, Il Il
probable that there will be somc enlarge
MEN, OF its present government as pre-
ferable to a general system Of local legls-
iatton aud territorial Organization. The
jurisdiction of federal officials there,maY
be extended and their number Increased,
This Is to be a temporary bridging over
81 the problem until the transItory
feature OF the population is largely elm
mated. As 10 the extension In toto OF the
general land laws the sentiment now Is
that the Lacey bill, providing for this
Is too sweeping. The right. OF way act
for RAILWAYS, etc, carried by the Lacey
biii Is likely 10 h. modified while there
viii be some special legislation for the
protection Of timber The homestead
laws viii be extended, Mineral and town
site laws already are In force. a prime
difficulty Is the absence OF surveys and IL
Is said that in ali probability there are
some portions of Alaska that never Will
operation Of the public land law extern
sion.
The postoffice department has prepared
advertisements which VIII soon be Issued
inviting proposals for furnishing adhe-
siYe postage stamps for the government
for the four years beginning July next.
The issues advertised for include the or
binary stamps, news and periodical
stamps. postage due stamps and those
for special delivery The number re-
quired per year approximate 5000 100000
Under special arrangement made near
ly four years ago the work of furnishing
stamps Is nov done by the bureau Of en-
craving and printing, the bids received
by the postoiilce department NJ that time
for furnishing stamps having been re-
jected. The arrangement terminates July
LIST, when the new contract which viii
result from the advertisement about to
be issued will become effective.
The naval authorities have long re-
garded the provisions OF existing laws
relating to the administration Of justice
as defective In that naval courts-marual
are not empowered to secure the attend
ance and testimony OF civilian witnesses.
II often happens that important facts
are exclusively known by civilians and
their testimony is required before almost
every important naval court-marttat. II
rarely happens that witnesses that can
avoid so doing are willing to appear IN
such cases Secretary Long says from
.gu examination OF legislation on This
subject It does not appear by any means
clear that Congress intended to leave
courts-martlal in such position. He
has submitted to the house naval COM
mIttee draft OF bill to remedy these
evils without giving the naval courts
undue authority, The first section in
wolves only an extension to the judge
advocate OF naval courts-mar,iai and
courts OF inquiry OF powers now possess
ed by Judges advocate OF army courts.
The section has been drawn in conform
ity with the similar design to meet pre-
clsely the same difficulty which had
arisen in the British service. providing
for certification for contempt, II ncces-
sary. to the nearest United States court
for punishment.
Some facts Of waite to business men
contemplating an extension of trade into
China are afforded By United States Con-
sui Covert at Lyons France, in a spec
ial report 10 the state department.
z The consul had before him some OF the
conclusions reached by the French COM
mission which has Just returned to
France from China where Il had been
sent to discover means OF extending
French trade. Because the results OF a
former commission through publication,
had been OF more value 70 British manu-
tdCtufefS tidH 10 ffeHtH tHs P|tHfHt
commission does not publish It's report
In fun. but retains the detailed formation
for communication privately 70 French
merchants. Meanwhile n brief report
has been made to the Lyons chamber OF
commerce, and this sets out in concise
form the wonderful opportunities for
trade extension IN populous China, the
undevetoped mineral resources df the
country and the progress already made
by the GefmaHs-Hew become rcdonbi-
able rivals OF the English In Chine. The
consul says that while the great nations
OF Europe are graspng for Chinese terri
tory It IS probable that the most deslrn-
bic conducsts may be achieved hy peace
fM methods. civilized nations have
equal interests IN opening the trade Of
China TO the world and the powers that
attempt to accomplish Il BY war and
conquest do no more than strengthen the
Chinese wall.
M