Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-03-02
ALASKAN GOLDFIELDS.
Tremendous Boom In Mining In.
dustry Predicted.
CANADIAN PLACER MINING LAW.
It's AnnuIment Repeal Probable.
Methods of Advancing bills In SEN
nte-Ex-Consress mt the Capt.
tal-washinstonG ossip.


WASHINGTON, Feb. o. special - A
mining boom appears to have started with
headquarters in Washington. For several
days past the capital has been invaded by
number of people from Alaska and from
other mining centers of the country who
have talked of mining and the great pros
poets of taking out gold in the far north
west. Some of the men who arc here are
simply interested in transportation routes
to the Alaska country, with some small in
forest in the mineral resources of that
great territory. Others are interested in
the mines of British Columbia and the
mountain states of the west. All are anx
ious for Alaska legislation at this session
Hugh G. Wallace of Tacoma, "a sen in-law
of Chief Justice Fuller, has recently been
in Washington and spread the mining
foyer among all with whom he came in
contact. He says the emigration to Alaska
and the adjoining British territory is GO
ing to be something tremendous during
the coming summer. He also asserts that
never in the history of this continent will
mining excitement become so great, ex-
ccpting the days of 1s49 after the gold
discoveries in California. Nearly every
other northwestern man who comes to
Washington is talking about the mineral
wealth of Alaska and Of the prospects in
other sections and predicting great
boom in the mining industry. Great in
terest has been manifesto in the exclusion
act passed by the Canadian parliament,
which would prevent aliens from engag-
ing in placer mining in British Columbia.
1t is believed that this will be repealed or
annulled before the mining season opens.
Must Coax or Fight.
A senator cannot always accomplish
what he wants by suavity and extreme
courtesy. No other man in the senate is
more accomplished in handling questions
than senator Allison but he sometimes
finds it necessary to do more than coax.
Another man who is Senator Allison 5
equal in his suave manner and unremit-
| ting good nature is Senator Carter of Mon
tanu. For several weeks the Montana SEN
ator has been trying to get bill through
| for Alaska which would give the great ter
ritory code Of laws, something much
needed in the territory 1t took him three
successive days with persistent coaxing to
| finally get unanimous consent that tho
reading of the bill might be started, and
the first night he only succeeded in havin
| 80 pages read, when the senators disap-
peared until only five remained and he
was forced to reluctantly give way. Pre-
vious to this ha had to adopt vigorous
course in order to get what he wanted.
! The first night Of his request it was met
with a firm and strenuous objection from
! Senator Hale of Maine. The next day
Senator Hale endeavored to get consiGera-
tion for the naval personnel bill, and Sen
ator Carter was found in the way with
several suggestions looking to its delay
IL 4, %
the Maine and Montana senators had a
conference, and later that evening when
Senator Carter was seeking to have his
Alaska bill read, Senator Hale not only
advocated it, but appealed to various SEN
ators who made objections to withdraw
them in order that the bill might proceed.
In this late day what cannot be accom-
plished by coaxing must be brought about
by hard fighting. Over all legislation not
actually needed hang the appropriation
bills ready to crowd everything else out of
the way.
When They Are Defeated.
1t often happens that when men are de
feated for the senate or for the house they
remain in Washington, either seeking APP
pointments from the federal administra
ton or entering into the practice of law.
Their acquaintance with congressman and
the fact that they served in either house or
senate are supposed to give them consider
able pull in matters pertaining to con
gressional legislation, and for that reason
their services are sometimes sought by
corporations, firms or individuals needing
a representative at the capital to look after
not only legal matters before the depart
mentS, but legislation as well. Washing
ton has great many cx-congressmen
practicing law, some Of them very success
full attorneys, while others manage to eke
out very meager existence by doing little
jobs Of lobbying when congress is in SEES
sion. On the other hand a great many
men rs soon rs they are retired from con
gress, either by being defeated in convcn.
ton, at the polls or by failure Of the legis
lature TO return them to the senate, leave
Washington at once and resume the prac
tice of law or engage in other business in
their old homes. 1t often happens that a
man finds it very hard to build up a law
practice or become successful in other
business ventures when he has been many
!. years in public life, but some of them are
even more successful after such congress
sional experience than before.
Some Examples.
When John c. Spooner Of Wisconsin had
stTNcu IL term VI Blk years III tIlc stlltltti
with great credit to himself, and was de
feated because the political complexion Of
the legislature changed, be entered at once
actively into the practice Of law and was
scarcely ever seen in Washington. At the
end of another six years he was again
elected to the senate and has resumed his
place as one Of the leading members OF
that body Senator Charles +. Henderson
OF Nebraska served 10 years in the senate,
and probably no man enjoyed senatorial
life more than he He left with the regret
of every one that knew him, for he was
, very popular here, and at once returned &c
his state, where he has been continually
: engaged in law practice. A great many
cases in which he has engaged bring him
to Washington at different intervals dur
ing the year, but he has no such thing as
Washington practice, his clients being
in the west. Senator John l.. Wilson OF
Washington is not a lawyer by profession.
He will not remain here and will not seek
an appointment at the hands OF the adj
ministration, although his personal rela
tions with President Mckinley are such
that he no doubt could obtain one. He
intends to go home and enter largely into
!. mining operations, in which he already
has some extensive interests He has been
, asked by number of politicians to run
for governor two years hence, but says
I that he will not go into politics again. II
would be good guess, just the same
that he will I've a candidate for the senate
toaR years from now
ARTHUR ". DUNN.