The San Francisco call., 1897-11-28
WHAT Will
Be DONE BY
CONGRESS-
Senator Perkins Talks of
the Work to Be Ac-
complished.
His POSITION ON ANNEXATION.
Says The Call" Is the ONLY
Large Paper That Is OPP
posing 1t.
OPPOSED TO DIVIDING ALASKA.
Thinks That Two Territories Would
Incur an Unnecessary Ex-
pense.
OPPOSED TO DIVIDING ALASKA.

''There will be many important ques
tions before Congress at its next session"
said Senator George G. Perkins yes erday,
but just what action will be taken or
what will be accom- plished cannot be as
yet told. But there are several important
measures which are sure to be passed, as
they are absolutely necessary. For in
stance, the general appropriation bill is
one Of them. 1t provides for the support
Of the Government and includes appro-
priations for the army and navy. the leg
islative, executive and judicial depart
m MS of the Government. Indian at
fairs, pos:t tfices and pos,roads will also
have 10 be provided for, besides the
amount necessary to pay pen ions. These
things will take al appropriation OF $140,-
600, 600 or more.
THE sundry civil bill, which carries
with it contracts ior improving the rivers
and harbors, the building OF lighthouses
and ligh ships and quarantine boats, will
also be taken up and probably $50 900 coo
be appropriated. Then we Will rave 10
provide for Notifications and ordnance,
and l presume something like $40. 900, 600
will be set aside for those purposes.
1T will be absolutely neces ary," con-
J.
i'm Improvement OF the rivers and harbors of
the United States. The Mississippi River
in particular, will need to be I'm proved
and levees built to prevent a recurrence of
the floods which devastated the country q
short time ago. The coast from Maine to
Florida should be improved and there will
be appropriations made for the purpose
Between $50, ,000. 600 and SAC, 900, 900 will be
approprIa, ed Tor This, as last year there
was about $4,000, 900 devoted to that pur-
pose
Senator Perkins then spoke of the usual
deficiency which always exists in the
United States courts and said that would
be provided for. He then referred to the
Ala aSkan question and to the fact that
bill Tor lis subdivision into TWO Terri
tories would probably be introduced.
Il am opposed 10 the division of
Alaska" said Senator Perkins, although
the Secretary OF War and the Secretary OF
the Interior recommend that it be di-
vided. am opposed 10 it for many rea-
sons. To create two Terr tories there
would mean to put in more officers. Cali
fornla is very much interested in Alaska
as Californians have many millions OF
dollars invested in the salmon canneries
there, besides vast amounts i'll the seal
fisheries. Three-Cuarters of the mines
are controlled by Californians, and they
are doubly interested in having an econ ON
lcal and wise government. 1t seems to
me at this time tina: it would be unwise
and mex pedlent to divide Alaska"
Senator Perkins then touched upon the
annexation o: the Hawaiian Islands.
"The treaty will come up and be dis
cussed and talked over. 1t will take
two-thrds vote to pass it. think that
the Democrats viii. oppose it. Senator
Morgan, fearing that two-thirds will not
be obtained, will pro badly introduce bill
providing for annexation. This will take
a majority vote to pass ii, and my impress
sion is that majority vote can pe OBJ
tanned. If the Democrats make deter
mined opnostion they can prolong it for
many months.
personally have been opposed to an
nexauon, but the people of California
seem to favor it, and l don't think l shall
oppose it, no matter what are my indl-
vidual views. / don't think that when
the people give expression to their views
| should s and out against their wishes in
the matter. My adv.ces from the people
are that they and nearly all the news
papers of the country are in favor of it,
Wi h ire exception of only one and that
is The CALL. The papers are supposed to
reflect The sentiment OF the people.
"Personaly | think it unwise to annex
isolated groups OF islands, as | do not
think that such departure from the
national policy is a good one. However,
the people seem TO favor it.
81 bel eve that the reciprocity treaty