Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-01-07
THE PEACE TREATY.
It Is Sent to the Senate by the Pres
ident with a Short Note.
ALASKA CRIMES BILL in TIE HOUSE
The Bill for the Retirement OF United
states Judge FoWer. or Kansas. Re.
ported Favorab!y from the
Committee ON Judiciary.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The first SEES
sion Of the senate after the holiday re.
cess occupied only Il minutes, although
In that brief time two open sessions
and one executive session was held.
The senatorial members OF the peace
commission appeared on the floor apd
were given hearty greeting by their
colleagues. In the absence of the vice
president Senator Frye, of Maine, the
president pro tenn, called the senate
to order. Scarcely had the clerk be.
gan TO read the journal Of the last ses-
sion of the senate when Senator Davis
moved that the further reading be dis.
pepsed with. The motion prevailed.
Senator Frye, who was in the
chair, Immediately recognized Maj.
Pruden, assistant secretary to the pres
ident, who presented q message from
the president of the United States.
The message contained the treaty Of
Paris. On motion OF Senator Davis,
the senate then went into executive
session In order that the treaty might
be referred to the committee on for
sign relations In a few minutes the
senate reconvened In open session, and
Senator Allison announced the death
of Senator Morrill,. The usual resolu.
tions were adopted, and as mark Of
respect the senate adjourned until to-
day.
When the senate went into executive
session the peace treaty, which had just
been received from the president, was
laid before the senate by Senator Frye,
who occupied the chair in the absence
of the vice president. The treaty was
not read, but the presidents message
accompanying II was. This was O
simple letter of transmittai without
any word Of recommendation or sug-
gestion and was only few lines In
length. On motion of Senator Davis
the treaty was referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations and Or
dered printed for the use of the senate.
A meeting of the committee on for
eign relations has been called for
Friday and It is probable that the
committee will then bring In resolu-
ton for the publication Of both the
treaty and the proceedings
ALASKA CRIMES BILL IN THE HOUSE
Washington, Jan. 5.-There wss less
less than 100 members on the ioor
when the house met at noon YES
terday after the holiday recess. The
blind chaplain in his invocation re-
fcrred feelingly to the critical illness
Of Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader, AMI
prayed for his speedy recovery. Under
o special rule adopted before the re.
cess, the house took up the considers
ton of the bill to define and punish
crimes in Alaska and provide a code of
criminal procedure for the district An
amendment was adopted giving q
jury, in case verdict Of gnilty OF
murder in the first degree was re-
turned, discretionary power to infiict
capital punishment
When the section was reached pro-
,ibiting the sale or gift of intoxicating
liquors to Indians, Mr.. Moody, of Mas.
offered an amendment con-
.inuing the existing law, which pro-
nibits the importation Of liquor except
Tor medical, mechanical and like pur-
poses.
Mr.. Tongue, OF Oregon, said 1t was
utterly impossible to enforce the pres
.nt law The inhabitants Of this dis
.rict will not uphold officers Of the
Jaw and liquor is openly sold before
them.
Several minor amendments were
adopted. The speaker then laid before |
the house the memorial resolutions
adopted by the senate out of respect
10 the memory of the late Senator |
Morrill,. As a further mark of respect
Tho house then, at 4:?5 p. M, ad.
|ourned.
Mr.. Lewis, OF Washington, intro
iuced resolution providing for an
inquiry by any house committee ap-
pointed to investigate the conduct Of
he war into the beef contracts made
BY the government, whether the beef |
was In all cases wholesome, and
whether the facts disclosed should or
should not demand the submission OF
he subject matter and persons con-
,ected Herewith to an appropriate
yrand jury Of the United States, to
inquire into and present such indict.
nent or presentment for obtaining
money by false pretenses or for the
heat and swindling Of the United
states. or of any Of her departments"
The bill providing for the retirement
Il United States Judge Foster. OF Kan.
as, was reported favorably from the
,ouse committee on Judiciary.