Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-17


son of North Dakota, Mr.. Loud of CAL
ifornia, Mr.. Hepburn and others and in
the course of the debate there was
some caustic criticisms of the course of
our Behring sea negotiations past and
present. Mr.. Johnson stated that Will,
the seal herd had brought $4,000 into
the treasury since 1870, 100000 had
been spent policing Behring sea, and
81, 100000 in negotiations and other eX
penses.
Cannon. Rep, ILL.,. asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of the bill
appropriating $l75, 90 for the purchase of
subsistence stores for the relief of the
miners in the Yukon river district and for
their transportation and dis tribution.
Sayers, Dem, Tex, the leading minor
ity member of the committee. testified
to the urgent necessity for the passage of
the bill owing to the absolute impossible
ity of private parties getting food sup
plies into the district
Simpson. Pop, Kan, reserved the right
to object and the propriety of the bill was
discussed with this reservation.
Cannon submitted to the House a
statement prepared by Mr.. Sheldon jack
son, one of the agents of the commits
sioner of education who was in the Klon-
dixie region as late as Sept 10. to the
condition there Mr.. Jackson expressed
the opinion that there would be suff-
ering as far up the river as Forty Mile.
The food supply on the upper Yukon in
his opinion. would not last beyond March
and he endorsed the resolution of the
secretary of war that food be sent in by
reindeer via Dyea. Cannon said
can or British territory. whether they
were American or British subjects. if
they We're starving. it did not become the
American Congress to hesitate about vot-
ing them relief
After this statement unanimous con-
sent was given for the consideration of
the bill.
Bailey said he had never been able to be
charitable out of the public funds. He
believed charity ought to be voluntary
and he had never voted for relief funds
to those stricken by fire or food. But he
realized that distress appealed to the
against bill designed to relieve that
distress. But he did protest against the
government settling up store houses and
becoming vender of provisions. If this
was to be done. the government should
give the relief freely without hope or ex-
pectation-of getting back a single dollar.
He thought the provision in the sale of
provisions to such as were able to buy
such should be stricken from the bill.
Savers Dem, Texas. called attention to
the fact that when it was proposed to
send relief to the naturalized citizens re-
siding in Cuba, there was not a dissent
ing vote W ny not, tnen rel1eVe our cltl-
ZenS who might be on British soil?
The bill was passed without division.
although there were scattering noes
when the Speaker called for the negative
vote. Secretary Alger was on the floor
during the debate.
mittee on foreign affairs. secured unani<
nous consent for the consideration of the
bill passed by the Senate yesterday. to
prohibit pelagic sealing by citizens of the
Vote C<,k, Lot, I
purpose, and the necessity for its enact
ment in view of the pending negotiations
with Great Britain.
Hopkins, Rep, ILL.,, thought that a time
limit should be placed on the operation
of the act so that in case the negotiations |
should collapse. our citizens would not |
be at disadvantage.
Hit said our government did not admit |
that pelagic sealing was a right. it was |
a barbarity. We were pressing upon |
Great Britain negotiation for the pro-
lection of the seals that three govern
ments had already agreed to. If we were
we should pass this measure.
johnson, Rep, N. D.. made vigorous
bill. He argued that the effect of this bill
and the negotiations now being conducted
would be the bolstering up of two great
British industries. one in Behring sea and
the other in London. The present. he
said. was not worth protecting. He de-
rlared that Canada would only be willing
to join with us in prohibiting pelagic
sealing on condition that we should allow
her to write our tariff laws.
johnson said we had been Inundated
md shamed by the complete surrender of
our rights and honor at the Paris trbu-
lal. He was sarcastic in his references
o Hon. John w. Foster. whom he termed
''the great surrenderer." So great was
MS reputation in this line, he said that
china had paid him 100000 for surrender
ng to Japan. He created much amuse-
nent by enumerating some of the ex-
)enses of the Paris tribunal and said he
lid not marvel that the experts who had
,lready made so much out of the govern
nent should desire to keep up an agita-
ion which permitted them to draw big
salaries and rove over the world at the
expense of the government.
johnson described the destruction of
he food fish by the seals. The recent in
.rease in the catch at the fisheries on the
Pacific coast and Alaska, he attributed
@ the diminution of the seal herd If
hese wolves of the sea had been COM
,letely exterminated, he said we would
lot be sending relief to the miners in
Alaska. Each seal requires 10 pounds of s
ish day. The coast of Alaska would s
become the greatest cod fishery in the :,
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