The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-17
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Provisions Made for Relief of klon-
dikers-Mr. WOIcOtt's Commission.

dikers-Mr. WOlcOtts Commission.
WASHINGTON, Dec 16-Mr Wolcott,
of Colorado, chairman of the commission
appointed by the President to secure, If
possible. the cooperation of foreign coun-
tries in an international conference on the
silver question. said in the Senate to-day
that the commission has not yet made a re-
port to the President, and it was uncertain
when a report would be made Negotia-
tions for bmetallc conference. he said
are still pending, but Mr. Wolcott assured
tho Senate that the commission had no in
tention of prolonging its effort beyond the
point where reasonable hope of success
should exist Mr.. Wolcott promised to ex-
plain fully the work of the commission in
a speech to be delivered after the holiday
recess.
In the course of a speech by Mr.. Stewart,
he said the utterances of the President and
secretary Of the treasury proved that this
was q gold-standard administration. This
statement brought Mr.. Chandler to his feet.
He said that Secretary Gage had never an
nounced that the present administration
was in favor of a gold standard and he did
not believe that the senator from Nevada
desires to misrepresent the administration.
Mr.. Stewart dsclaimed any intention to
misrepresent President Mckinley or Secre-
tary Gage, but he insisted that the words
and actions of the secretary established the
truthfulness of his statement.
Mr.. Pritchard, chairman of the civil-serV-
ice investigation committee. delivered
brief speech upon the execution of the civil
service law as developed by his committee.
Mr.. Hanna, of Ohio after an Illness OF a
week, appeared in the Senate to-day and
was cordially greeted by his colleagues.
Mr. Frye. of the commerce committee,
faVoraby reported. and the Senate passed
a bill directing the secretary OF the treas
ury TO purchase or construct suitable YES
sci for revenue cutter service on the Yukon
river, Alaska to cost not to exceed 10000.
Mr. Allison. of the appropriations COM
mittee, reported favorably the House joint
resolution, providing for a recess of Con-
gress from Dec. lS 1897, to Jan. 5, 1898 The
resolution was adopted.
Mr. Hawley of the military affairs COM
mittee, reported the resolution of Mr.. Nc
Bride for the relief of American miners
and other sufferers in the Yukon valley,
Alaska The committee struck out all but
the enacting clause and amended the reSOlu-
ton by appropriating $2500O0 which is to be
used by the secretary of war for the pur
chase of subsistence and supplies and Tor
their transportation and distribution, the
consent of the Canadian government first
to be obtained to pass over the Canadian
territory. The resolution further provides
that the supplies are to be distributed
among the needy miners as the secretary or
war may determine and that the supplies are
TO be transported by means of reindeer, the
reindeer to he sold after they have per-
formed their service. Mr.. Hawley asked for
immediate consideration of the resolution
and il was then adopted
At o'clock the Senate went into execu-
tive session. The executive session lasted
an hour, and then, at 8 o'clock. the Senate
adjourned.