The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-17
SESSION OF THE SENATORS.
WOLCOTT TO TELL OF HIS TRIP TO
EUROPE NEXT MONTH.

IutiOns Passed Authorizing the
Sending of Relief to the kIondike
Region.
Washington, Dec. 16.-Mr. Wolcott Of
Colorado, chairman of the commission APP
pointed by President Mckinley to secure,
if possible, the cooperation of foreign
countries in an international conference
upon the silver question, said in the Sem
ate to-day that the commission had not
yet made a report to the President, and
it was uncertain when a report would be
made. Negotiations for a bmetallic con-
ference, he said, are still pending, but Mr.
Wolcott assured the Senate that the com
mission had no intention of prolonging
its effort beyond the point where reason
able hope of success should exist.
Mr.. Wolcott promised to explain fully
the work OF the commission in a speech to
be delivered after the holiday recess.
A resolution directing the Secretary of
War TO send supplies to American and
other sufferers in the Klondike region was
passed.
Mr.. Pritchard of North Carolina, chair
man of the civil service investigating
committee, delivered brief speech upon
the execution of the civil service law as
developed by his committee.
Mr.. Frye of the commerce committee IA
vorably reported and the Senate passed a
bill directing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to purchase or construct suitable
vessel for revenue cutter service on the
Yukon river, Alaska to cost not to exceed
$4,000
Mr.. Allison of the appropria lions com
mittee reported faVorably the House joint
resolution providing for a recess of con-
gress from Dec. IS, 1897, 20 Jan. ., 1888. The
resolution was adopted
Mr.. Hawley of the military affairs com
mittee reported the resolution of Mr.. Nc
Bride of Oregon 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 resolution by appropriating $250O0O
winch is to be used by the Secretary Of
War for the purchase of subsistence and
supplies and for their transportation and
distribution, the consent of the Canadian
government first to be obtained TO mass
over Canadian territory The resolution
further provides that the supplies are 10
be distributed among the needy miners as
the Secretary of War may determine and
that the supplies are to be TRANSPORTED bv
means of reindeer, the reindeer to be sold
alter they have performed their service
Mr.. HaWley asked for immediate consider
alton of the resolution, and it was then
adopted.
Mr.. Cannon of Utah offered and had
passed resolution directing the Secretary
OF the Treasury to furnish the Senate the
names of the revenue cutters employed on
the coast of Florida TO prevent filibuster-
ing; how many such expeditions were
tnWarted; what vessels We're captured;
what armed expeditions were
taken, and by what authority of law
the Secretary of the Treasury acted in the
matter.
Mr.. Aliens resolution, calling upon the
President for information as to the in
structions given to the International mon
etary commission and the report made to
him by the commission then came up.
Mr.. Wolcott said the commission had not
made report to the President The Eng
lish, he added, had published a resume of
the proceedings of the commission in
Great Britain. That document will soon
be here and it covers the subject fully.
it will be valuable to senators and others.
L hope soon,' said Mr. Wolcott Ito
make statement concerning the work
of the monetary commission. Quite natu-
rally, the statement l shall make will be
unofficial, but it will contain some infor-
nation that may be of interest and value
TO the Senate.
AS l have been absent from the coun-
lily ABOUT nine months, nave not, since
my return, on account of an accumulation
of business, been able to prepare such a
statement as / should like to make to the
Senate If the senators will permit the
question might go over until after the re-
cess, when, about the middle of next
month, shall be able to discuss the sub
ject"
Mr.. Wolcott asked, and the Senate or
dered printed, a speech delivered by M
Meline in the French Chamber of Depu-
ties on Nov. 20 last, in which he dealt at
considerable length with all subjects bear
ing upon bimetallism
m. Meline shows" said Mr.. Wocott
"that the steady depreciation OF prices
of agricultural products is due solely TO
competition between gold and silver coun-
tries
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska, the author Of the
resolution, said he was not disposed 10
press it at this time if the senator from
Colorado (Alr. WolcotO desired to speak
upon it at a later day, but he thought
that the matter ought to be cleared away.
There is no desire upon the part of
ANYBODY" said Mr.. Wolcott, ito prolong
The negotiations after all hope of success
has disappeared. No member of the com
mission would delay for an hour the an
nouncement of its decision after decis-
ion, one way or the other, shall have been
reached
MIR. Allen said he had always been salts
fed that interna tional bimetallism was a
attained but he was willing to afford the
commission all reasonable latitude. He
asked that the resolution go over until
Jan. 10 and il was so agreed.
Mr.. Pritchard of North Carolina, chair
man of the committee on civil service.
which is engaged in an investigation of
the civil service system, then delivered a
speech dealing with the general feature
OF the civil service law.
II was, he said, singular coincidence
that il never occurred to Mr.. Cleveland to
make his sweeping extensions of the civil
service law until he reached that point
where it was obvious to him that his
marty was to be repudiated by the Amer
ican people at the next general election,
nor until nearly all republicans had been
removed from office and their places filed
with simon-pure democrats.
AT o'clock the bill went over to a flu
ture day. and, on motion of Mr.. Quay,
the Senate went into executive session.
The executive session lasted an hour.