Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-03-04
55th CONGRESS-.
Continued from page ~

fact that it was a federal official who had
been murdered and government proper
that had been destroyed The resolution
was then referred to the committee on
contingent expenses
Bills were passed as follows: Granting
free entry to Il set of bells presented by
the Car of Russia to the orthodox Rus
sian church al Bridgeport Ct: to provide
for the transfer OF the Fort Sydney mill
tary post reserve to the state of Ne
braska for educational purposes ana to
establish an assay office at Seattle. Wash
The motion of Hoar to non-concur III
the House amendments to the bankruptcy
bill was laid before the Senate and Stew
art, New, resumed his speech upon the
House measure. At the conclusion Of his
speech, Stewart offered a resolution that
the Senate conferees be instructed to in
SiSt upon the Senate bill. The resolution
created some debate OF a parliamentary
character. Stewart then withdrew his
resolution and 1oarS TO non-concur IN
the House amendments to the bankruptcy
bill and that committee on conference
be appointed was adopted.
The Vice President appointed HOar.
Nelson and Lindsay conferees of the
Senate on the bankruptcy bill.
The Alaskan homestead and railway
right of way bill was then taken up and
Turner. Wash. addressed the Senate. lie
recognized. he said. the necessity of some
such legislation as that proposed because
10000 adult Americans Were preparing
to 20 into Alaska and if proper trans
T0rfdtlbn 1aclilLltS We're not PROVIDED 1t
would be a cruel shOrt-Sighted policy.
In his opinion the DILL sufficiently hodGed
about the transportation companies as
the restrictions placed upon them by the
bill were even more severe than those
placed upon them by the general law.
TO meet 4 point advanced by Turner.
carter. Mont. in charge Of the biz
offered a committee amendment retaining
the first section of the House hill except
whern il provided for the approval of
Ia President and poOHifind "a mil
tc" amendment with proViso that no
entry shall be allowed extending more
than 10 rods along the shore of any ndvi-
gable water and along such shore Il space
Of at least 10 rods shall he reserved from
entry between all such claims"
The committee amendment was adopted.
After the section was amended. Vest
moved To strike out the entire section.
lie said that he desired to test the sense
of the Senate on the proposition to rN-
tend the homestead laws To the district
of Alaska. The construction of railroads
would b.. Il most difficult ana cXpcnsiV"
undertaking. He thought that after the
cphemeral told-sorking rush had subsid
ed there would be no possible reason for
the construction OF railways in Alaska.
Vest rdiculcd the report made by Rev.
Or. Sheldon Jackson upon the agriculture
of Alaska. Alaska. h" declared. was not
AN agricultural section and ii never could
be made one. In that great section, two
ana u half times larger than Texas ana
~ llfIltS larger IMAM tiSorgia, intrr WAS
not Singl" farm, yer tho report Of Or
Jackson pictured tho wonderful potatoes
and the remarkable cabbagcs produced
there
Vest said he knew something of these
potatoes and cabbageS Tn" potatoes
were large and fun of water. lIn SAW
cabhages that spread over the ground
like the blanket of SanchO PanZa ana
cauiiiowcrs that weighed - pounds. yet
when they were cut they contained moth
= N nrh
Dr. Jackson referred To. it was ''veGe-
table blasphemy TO compare them with
the blue grass Of Kentucky" He thought
the purchase of Alaska for $500 900 had
been recklessly and heedessly made
Since 1891 it had cost the government
Sal 900. and there had been paid to "Rcv.
Sheldon Jackson. ID. D.. Ii. D.. mission
airy TO the Aleuts and manager Of rein
deer. $4,000 for spending his winters in
Washington and his summers in Alaska"
The motion Of Vest to strike out the
first section was by an aye and nay vote
defeated. 81 to l..
Section of the bill was amended by
the insertion of a declaration that "ail
such rights tides lands and beds of
naVigabIe rivers. shall continue to be
held by the United States in trust for he
people of any state or states which may
hereafter be created out Of said district"
And it was further amended by The adop-
tion Of the following provision offered by
tho committee: THAT all charges for The
transportation Of freight and passengers
on railroads in the district of Alaska
endll he fixed subject to the approval Of
the secretary Of the interior Hnd when
80 approved shall be printed and posted
rs required by section of the act to reg
ulate commerce. as amended on March
. 1883 ard new rates Of charges may he
prescribed by the secretary OF the in
terror from time to time as he may deem
necessary.
Without disnosing of the bill. tho Sen
"a q = Il NJ 11jn11tOpI