Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-10
TIE ALASKAN BILL.
Senate Votes to Extend the Home
stead Laws to the Territory.
Two APPROPRIATION BILLS PASSED.
The Pension and Consular and Diplomatic
Hills Sent to the President Cuban Re-
ports Wanted-Paris Corn Exhibit
Artillery Increase.

NAsutNoiuN, MdECh D. -hlVcI uc
bate lasting several days, the senate
late yesterday afternoon passed the
bill extending the homestead laws
and providing for right-of.way for
railroads in Alaska. Comparatively
little discussion of general interest
was created by the bill. Section 10,
providing for certain bonding conces-
sions to Canada in lieu of privileges to
be extended by the dominion govern
ment to this country, however, in.
duced lively debate, as it brought
into the controversy the old fisheries
question on the New England coast,
which has been pending between the
United States and Great Britain for
hundred years. The statement was
made on the floor Of the senate that
there was every reason to believe that,
by the passage of the bill, the fisheries
question could be settled without
great effort, as assurances to that effect
had been received from large and in
huential element in Canada,
Senator Jones, OF Arkansas, intro
duced bill to authorize the loyal
Creek Indians to bring suit against
the United States government in the
United States circuit courts
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON. March 1.-Two more
appropriation bills were sent to tho
president yesterday, the pension bill
and the consular and diplomatic bill,
both of which went through their final
stage in the house, Yesterday was
private bill day. The most important
action taken was acquiescence in an
agreement to make the bill appropria-
ting about 81, 100000 for war claims,
approved by the court OF claims, under
the provisions of the Bowman act,
special order for next Friday. The
claims carried by the bill, $50 in
number, are for stores and supplies
seized during the war in the southern
states.
Only two bills were passed yester-
day, one to pay the heirs of Sterling
I. Austin about $50, 900 for cotton
seized during the war, and the other
to pay an aggregate of IS, $3.50 in small
claims growing out Of back pay, etc,
earned during the war The house adj
journed over until Monday.
At the night session of the house 80
pension bills and nine relief bills were
passed, among them one to pension
James II. Rawlins, son Of Gen. John
a. Rawlins, at the rate of $50 per
month, Mr.. Rawlins suffers from cpl
lepsy and is incapable of earning
livelihood.
CUBAN CONSULAR CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON. March B. Senator Nor
gan said yesterday that 1t was his pur-
pose to introduce a resolution at an
early date, making Il second call upon
the president for the consular CORE
spondence bearing upon the condition
of affairs in Cuba. II think, he said,
that the senate and the country are
entitled to know officially what the
condition there is, and that the re-
ports of the consuls should not be
withheld for an unusual length OF
time. do not, however, wish TO com
plicatc this matter with the Name dis
aster, and shall not introduce the reso
luton while the court of inquiry is sit
ting, unless its report is unnecessarily
delayed
CORN EXHIBIT FOR PARIS
WASHINGTON, March 5.-Congress-
man Frederick will make an argument
before the house committee on foreign
affairs next Tuesday for an appropria-
ton Of $50, 600 for a corn exhibit at the
Paris exposition. The committee has
before it now the bill providing for a
national exhibit at the exposition in
1900, and Mr. Broderck's proposition
is to amend it that $50, 900 shall be set
apart to be used exclusively for an ex-
hibt of corn products. Mr.. Broderick
believes that his amendment will be
adopted by the committee and accepted
by both houses,
ARTILLERY INCREASE BILL.
WASHINGTON, March 5--Chairman
Hull believes when the bill adding
two companies of artillery to the army
comes up in the house next week II
will command large majority. The
opposition to the measure, which at