New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-05
AN OFFER MADE TO CANADA
PROSPECT OF SETTLING THE FISHERIES
CONTROVERSY.
ALASKA RIGHT -or-wAY BILL. PASSED BY THE
sENATE-ExTENsIoN OF THE BONDING
PRIVILEGE PROPOSED IN RETURN
FOR CONCESSIONS TO AMER


PRIVILEGE PROPOSED IN RETURN
FOR CONCESSIONS TO AMER
IcAN FISHERMEN.
Washington. March AFTER a debate lasting
several days the Senate late this afternoon
passed the bill extending the homestead laws
and providing for right OF way for railroads III
Alaska Section 13, providing for certain bond
ing concessions 10 Canada in lieu Of privileges
TO be extended by the Dominion Government 10
this country caused a lively debate, as II
brought into the controversy the old hsheries
question on the New England coast. which mas
been pending between the United States ana
Great Britain for hundred years. The state
ment was made on the floor OF the Senate tha'
there was every reason to believe that ny the
passage of the bill the fisheries question couiu
be settled withou. great effort. as assurances 10
that effect had been reached from large ana
influential element in Canada.
Mr. Turner moved TO strike out that part OF
the section which related to the entering q
Canadian ports by American fishermen. lie c'd
not he said make the motion because he vas
hostile to the New-E9gland fisheries but because
he deemed II unfair to burden this measure WIN
q demand on the Dominion Government that IL
Weld q contention It has made for a hundred
years.
Mr.. Hale inquired " Mr.. Turner did not 'ninK
II would be OF advantage to the United states
10 obtain the fisheries concession from Cana'i"'
Mr.. Turner replied that It would ne OF ac'in'
tage II we could obtain it. but ne did not 'e-
lieve It could be obtained
CANADA Likely TO ACCEPT.
~. ,,arshrouqb said that the Committee on
Public Lands was In possession Of Information
nj
posed bv the section. He was firmly OF tne
or,rtor that the Dominion Government would
WELD on the fisheries question IN We" u WV
concessions made to 1t by the bill
Mr. uoar EXPRESSED the hope that Mr. Turner
u,ould not insist on his motion. The fisheries
question was a local one to New-hhs'aH"'
hut 2 National Question. a question, too J ar
ticularlv applicable to the people or the Norlh-
west where the fisheries interest was annually
Incoming greater He felt that the fisheries
nroblem was Of immense importance 10 the
people Of the Northwest. and ought not to be
stricken from the measure.
In supporting and supplementing what Mr..
Hoar had said Mr.. Frye said that the pending
bill was Of National importance. From 1T
tie town near where he lived in Maine twenty
five hundred people had gone to Alaska. anu
many more. OF course. had left the state Tor
the Klondike. He thought there was Hever
better opportunity TO secure concessions rom
the Canadian Government than at the present
time when the Canadians wanted something
from the United States. He did not think the
motion ought to prevail because the United
States had long been giving Canada much and
receiving little in return. Mr.. Frye believed
that II It were not for the captiousness Of
Canada there would not be the slightest trou-
BILE between this country and Great Britain.
Mr.. Wilson supported the contention Of Mr..
Turner and thought 1t the height Of absurdity
to tack the fisheries question TO a bill pro-
vdng for the encouragement Of railway con-
struction in Alaska
Mr. Carter agreed with Messrs Hoar and Frye
that the fisheries question. so far as it was con-
sidered in this bill, of National importance
The fisheries industry in Alaska and the North
west now yield S6OOOOOO a year, and
growing In importance every year. Concerning
the mineral resources of Alaska, Mr.. Carter
said he was satisfied. not from Government re
ports alone but from the best authority in this
country, that the output OF gold in a year or
two would be larger from that district than from
any other part oc the world. one authority. in
which ne said he had the utmost confidence,
estimated that in Alaska gold to the amount
! Of SO 900 600 a year would be produced in a
| comparatively short time He said that If Sec
/ ton 13 should he adopted presented Canada
would be compelled to abandon that all-Cana-
/ dian route. and he believed that this country
would obtain every concession which was de-
manded of Canada by the pending section.
TEXT OF SECTION H.,
Mr.. Turner's motion to strike out the fisheries
portion Of the section was defeated by yea
and nay vote "a to Ii The section adopted
/ without division. As agreed to. Section Is is as
4 follows
That under rules and regulations to be prescribed
by the Secretary Of the Treasury the privilege Of
/ entering goods in warehouses and merchandise IN
bord, or OF pldG!hs thsh IN pohueg ,"hrthouscS
at the port Of Wrengeli District OF Alaska, ana
! place in British Columbia or the Northwest Ter
/ ritory without payment OF duty is hereby granted
! 10 the Government of the Dominion Of Canada ana
its citizens or citzens ol me United states Whsn
ever and long as 1t shall appear TO the satis-
shall ascertain and declare the fact by proclama-
tom that exclusive privilege Of transportins
,irsd fop other ports in Alaska is granted to any
! dominion OF Canada. and that the privilege mas
GT dpeT9g to nes in Brush
! Columbia OF the Northwest Territory OF making
Alaska. and that the Government of the Dominion
OF Canada has consented to ana Is ai.ownS on & ne-
half Of the citizens OF the United states tne entryI
free OF duty OF ali miners outfits and supply or
/ QUANTITY one thousand pounds for each citizen or
The United States proposing 10 engage in mining in
! british Columbia the Northwest Territory. and
that the Government of the Dominion Of Canada
has removed all unequal restr ctiots as 10 the issue
Of miners licenses 10 all citizens Of the United
States operating or intending 10 operate in British
/ Columbia or In the Northwest Territory.
And further that fishing vessels OF the United
/ States having authority under the laws Of the
| r-ntcd states 10 touch and trade At any port or
I rnrts place or places I'm tho British DOminons OF
Sorth America shall have the privilege Of entering
."ch oort or ports place or places for the purpose
Of purchasing bait and all other supplies and out
AZ IN tho same manner and under the rcgu-
iations as may exist therein applicable 10 trading
vessels OF the most favored nations. and Of trans
/ ehirning their catch. TO be transported IN bond
tbrough said Dominion. without payment OF duties.
/ g., ,hr anne manner other merchandise destined
e. T-rf.af States le thus TRANSPORTED.