The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-02

Washington, March Shortly after
the senate convened today Mr.. Perkins
of California, of the committee on ma
val affairs, presented a favorable re-
port on Mr.. Bacon's resolution provid-
ing for the erection in statuary hall
of the capitol a bronze memorial tab
let commemorative of the officers and
sailors who lost their lives in the
Maine disaster in Havana harbor. In
the course of his report upon the reso-
luton, Mr.. Perkins paid an eloquent
tribute to the Names dead.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont suggested
that statuary hall was scarcely a
proper place to erect the tablet and
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts thought
some other place for it might better
be designated. The resolution was so
amended as to provide for the erection
of the tablet at some suitable place in
the capitol. AS amended, the resolu-
ton was adopted.
BANKRUPTCY BILL.
Mr.. Hoar then renewed his motion
of yesterday that the senate disagree
to the house amendments to the bank
ruptcy bill, and that a committee on
conference be appointed.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada said he was
opposed to an involuntary bankruptcy
bill at such a time as this evening,
and he wished before the measure was
sent to conference to present some in
formation upon The subject that would
be valuable to the conferees. The
house bill assumes" Mr.. Stewart be-
gan, that any man who cannot pay
his debts is a criminal 1t is the most
atrocious bill that could be framed in
the present condition of the country
Mr.. HOar said he thought the senate
confereeS might be trusted properly to
represent the senate on this bill, and
he appealed to Mr.. Stewart to permit
the measure TO go to conference with
out further debate.
mo appeal to me need be made In
behalf of this diabolical bin," ex-
claimed Mr. Stewart Il propose to dis
cuss this matter fully, in order that
not only the conferees, but the country,
may know what the bill means"
Mr.. Stewart spoke until o'clock.
when the Alaska homestead and right
of way bill was laid before the senate.
Mr.. Stewart announced that he would
continue his address tomorrow.
RAwLINS ON ALASKA BILL.
Mr.. Rawlins of Utah continued his
speech begun yesterday in opposition
TO the general features of the bill He
reiterated his charge that the bill, as
framed, gave dishonest spectators a
marked advantage over the public gen.
orally. 1t enabled them. he said, to
ribbon the district of Alaska with paper
rights of way, which would enable them
to control an enormous amount of land
for an almost indefinite period.
Mr.. Lindsay of Kentucky inquired
the bill provided that railroads
should charge specified rates for freight
and passengers. He had noted that the
rates of toll TO be charged by the tram
ways and wagonroads should be ap-
proved by the secretary of the interior.
But he could find no such limitation on
railroads.
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska, a member of
the committee on public lands. said that
it was his understanding that a pro-
vision covering the matter of railroad
rates had been inserted in the bill, and
# it was not there the bill was a mis-
print.
Mr.. Carter of Montana explained that
the committee had not thought desir-
able to put a provision in the bill reg
llating the charges to be made by rail-
roads, as that was distinctly within
the provisions of the interstate COM
nerce law. He said that no such pro-
vision as that referred to by Mr.. Allen
had ever been contemplated
Mr.. Rawlins, in conclusion, said he
thought congress ought to legislate for
he people and not for the land sharks
md fake railroads. The pending bill,
lie said, gave arbitrary power to a gov
eminent officer to dispose of some OF
ne most valuable of franchises. He
bought the measure was iIl-drawn and
BADLY considered. Good government de-
handed that no such bill should go
Ipon the statute books. The rights in
Alaska were the common property OF
Ill, and Mr.. Rawlins said that we'll con-
idered legislation should be provided
or all the people who might desire to
20 to that district.
The senate then, at 1856 p. m, went
nto executive session, and at 3:45 p. m
adjourned.