The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-14

tefday afternoon to take immediate and
decided action In regard 10 the impending
British Columbia exclusion act, and 10
ask all the state legislatures now In ses-
sion to join In a resolution requesting
stay OF proceedings. 80 to speak. until the
American side can be heard. AS the
American miner is the only alien who Is
party to the issue, the only party who
can claim grievous INJURY by the passage
OF the bill. there were put forth reasons
at the meeting why he should be granted
a stay until he could be heard There was
one gentleman present at the meeting who
had been long time resident Of British
Columbia, and who had had no reason up
TO this time to remember his nationality.
Had there been native-born British CO.
lgmbians present. they would have found
in the proceedings not a single utterance
TO cause them embarrassment. On the
contrary. however great the regret felt In
regard 10 the injury the passage OF such
bill as that proposed mlght have been.
the whole discussion partook OF q friendly
nelghborly spirit.
J. w. elise. the chairman OF the ieg-
is,ative committee of the chamber called
tho meeting to order and briefly stated its
present must be familiar. Every one was
familiar, but everyone waited for the first
move TO be made. Ex-senator II. w.
Fairweather broke the silence with an
explanation that he attended as the rep.@-
sentative OF Mr.. Bailey, OF the Northern
hotel. who was too sick 10 be present. Mr.
Bailey was interested in Atlin in various
ways. He was now engaged in building
steamboats, In British Columbia to ply to
Atliu. He had just made all his contracts
when this bin came up. and naturally he
was interested in whatever action could
be taken in regard 10 II Mr.. Nadeau, OF
the Northern Pacific. made a few remarks,
followed by MIR. Graves, the president OF
the Chamber of Commerce. and Judge
Mc1silyra. who asked a few general ques-
tions on the present phase OF the matter.
and the discussion became general and
Informal.
Mr.. Fairweather Explains.
The section of the United States Re-
vised Statutes published In the Post-In-
teisreucer that aliens can in our terri
tories acquire and hold mines and mining
claims. was often referred 10. II WAS nat
uraI shas there should some explanation
be though, necessary for the previous ex-
istence OF law excluding alien miners
from the United States. This Was satis-
factorlly explained hy ex-senator Fair
weather. nho said that az the time of its
passage many Chinese miners acre COM
Ing into the counsry and as they never
could become citizens the law was passed
Ia prevent their locating large tracts OF
valuable mineral sands. II was never In
tended 20 apply IL To Canadians and IL
rsever had been SO applied lie then tod
about the adoption OF the clause In the
constitution OF the state of Washington
which oxenp,s mining claims and mining
r,iias sites from the allen act. he having
a. a senator assisted III It's passage
Mr.. Graves said hs had made Inquiries
ard had rot heard ef the right or any Ca
madam 20 held mining lands ~ This coun-
try ever being contested. ard Burton =
Bennett said there was no record q any
saeh contention having arisen IN Alaska.
His statement was borne cut hy Josiah
Collins. Who told ar experience * his III
Northern Alaska that ws$ very much 70
che paint.
IL was gsnsr.~y un&erss ooi, he said that
in sae interior al ire laad VAS open 80
mineral location. whether IN Canada or the
gui.aa States. an4 II sheTe was 4 rnstss
states al.ea fAw applying to Alaska man-
ins. very few is there knew ~ II. or had
fs!f tts influence. Al Circle Cf;y 3 ceGple
Of (Tan4afA@s located TAO clair 81 Birch
creek. and there was es3sctsen raised 80
! shpsr recording ou thH ground tast Faey
weFe agiess THIS was the on,y case ot o1-
se-.saa ne rad heard os, ard 5; was ana AMI
ssssassay voted aasn as s@On So il w&s
gSAsed
Ex-senator rssYweatSsr rnsn'senea tha;
/ RS c3gssu. x'il1iAns Fa,rwsather. of New
brunswick. Canada tocatss Alter susca.
Montana. fha richest 3igsfnss. probably
ever kaown. ;Aas he peonss ST NassazEs
Aas ael& Aasza sm aigh esteem. although hs
wa~ n~ser na1aFalsxsss Ffs ;a3a af other
instances ~ Csgs6sans locating ard halt-
/ .ssx rssnessl ega0hs usGgsturness. ana Jasres
A Moore remarked; why. x our alien
/ law was operative as 80 mining. knsw -
! ,se csssr-as - sev~14. Canasisnx II Regse-
ac camp taa. could he tssra9sa'
N- Caitbyezsh SISTED that sss tact taat
British Columbia sc1ssvef that Canadians
vsr. SHIT cus .rc-a stAkins ezassss Ia
Alaska was ans t3sEiEeat5nn they held ss-
7ss s.gs aFas tsas fact taat NtssaFSs as5
yareauvgg 3ess~ea ~ eaTaw2&ms sse srass
~ gns aew Agsln G8gSsmSs Ms another u
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