The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-16


the foreign relations committee, who
said that it was in the aid of the ne
gotiations pending among the repre-
sentatives of the government of the
and Japan.
Mr.. Fettigrew Cs. ID sharply antag-
onized the measure, saying that this
country had already suffered more than
enough humiliation on account of the
seal business. and that he favored the
settlement of the question by killing
all of the seals, as they appeared at
the rookeries of the Pribylof Islands, if
by the first of June next, Great Britain
also had not agreed to the prohibition
of pelagic sealing. He offered an
amendment to that effect, but it was
defeated. The bin was passed by a
vote of 81 to "A.
Mr. Mcbride (Ore.) tried to secure
the adoption of his resolution, directing
the secretary of war to supply relief to
the suffering miners in the KlOndike
region and appropr1ating $25O,000 for
that purpose
The resolution was amended that the
supplies might be transported by
means of reindeer. Mr.. Mcbride con-
sented finally that the resolution should
be re-conmitted to the military af
fairs committee with the understand
ing that it would be promptly report
ed.
The session closed with a spirited de-
bate upon the bill presented by the CEN
sus committee.
L II
adoption of a resolution directing the
secretary of the treasury to transmit to
congress all correspondence regarding
the legal right of collectors of internal
revenue to appoint their own assist
ants, and also the correspondence with
the civil service commission relating to
the right OF the commission to review
the appointments made by such col
lectOrs.
Mr. Allen CJeb) presented a resolu-
tion requesting the president, if not
Incompatible with the interests Of the
government. to send to congress the in
structiOns given to the International
monetary commission. the report they
have made and the correspondence re
lating to the subject. On objection the
resolution went over.
The concurrent resolution adopted by
the house providing for a recess of
congress from Saturday, December IS,
1897, to Wednesday, January 5, 1S9S
was laid before the senate and referred
to the committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Mcbride (Ore.) called up his res
OlutiOn 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 and other sufferers in the val
ley of the Yukon river in Alaska and
apprOpriating $250,000 to defray the
necessary expenses.
An amendment to the resolution pro
viding for the transportation of the
supplies by means of reindeer was
adopted.
Mr.. Hawley moved that the resoIu-
tion be referred to the committee on
military affairs, promising that it
should have prompt cOnsidera ton.
Mr.. Mcbride, after stating his reason
for desiring immediate action, said he
was satisfied, with the assurances of
Mr.. HaWley, and would consent to the
reference of the resolution. 1t was
therefore referred.
Mr.. Davis of the foreign relations
committee called up the bill prohibit
ing the killing of fur seals in the wa
ters of the North Pacific ocean and
Sherman of the state department and
Gage of the treasury department fav-
oring the immediate passage of the
proposed measure.
Mr. Davis explained that the bill was
in aid of furthering diplomatic negotia-
tiOns.
Mr.. Pettigrew expressed the opinion
that if England would not enter into a
mutual agreement for the preservation
of the herd, justice demanded that this
country should kill the seals, thus final
ly dispOSing of them He thought it
would be no more inhuman and little
less troublesome to kill the entire 49,
900 than to kill the sc, 600 allowed.
Mr.. SpOoner (Wis.) asked Mr.. Pet
tigrew if he believed that Great Brit
ain, as a Self-PeSp Specting nation, would
ernInent should meet it with sUch a
threat as that implied in his (Petti-
greW's) statement.
Replying, Mr.. Fettigrew said the
United States had been trying for four
years to secure an agreement with
for the protection of the seals,
and had failed, England refusing even
to enter upon the negotiations.
For one" he continued, Il am tired
of waiting upon England in this, as in
other matters. 1t is humiliating that
we should be compelled to do so, not
only in the fur seal but in the Cuban
and financial questions, hesitating to
declare our independence because of
England's possible opposition. The on
ly interest England has in protecting
the Spanish interest in Cuba, is that
implied in the fact that Lombard
street holds the Spanish bonds. This
being the case, we can do nothing for
Cuba unless Great Britain is
willing. So it is in financial matters, |
and thus it happens that we must send
a commission to fawn at the feet of the |
hook-nOsed Jews of London to ascer- |
tain whether they are willing that we
should do thus and so in the matter of
our finances"
The senate then, on motion of Mr..
Quay (Pa.), went into executive ses-
sion, and a few minutes afterwards it |
adjourned.
Ar CYAN DAFT Dnan