The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-29

Hon. vespasian Warner. of Clinton. ILL.,.
representing the Thirteenth Illinois dis
trict in the national house of representa-
tives. arrived In the city yesterday and
Is stopping at the Butler hotel Mr..
Warner is chairman of a committee to
report upon and codify a system of laws
for the territory of Alaska, and is now
on his way there, in response to an ur-
gent invitation from Gov. Brady, to in
form himself, as may be necessary, Of
needed changes. Mr.. Warner said last
night:
in condition that might be called mix
ed. In 1854. I think 1t was. an act was
passed by congress applying the laws of
Oregon to Alaska so far as they would
meet the conditions there, and confusion
has reigned ever since. During the last
congress a code of criminal laws was
enacted for the territory. but the civil
law remains as 1t was. A civil code
will be introduced in the next congress.
and. as there Is no question of its pas
sage, the people residing in our northern
possession will soon be living under a
systematized code of laws.
RI have been In Alaska before and am
familiar with the needs there. by reason
OF that fact as well as from my work
on these laws. 1t is a valuable region.
possessing resources that are not gener-
ally known. and Is attracting the increas-
Ing attention Of wide-awake men in the
East"
Mr.. Warner was very much struck with
the condition Of things here and the sub
stantial character of business growth.
Speaking Of this he said:
Il have been on the Coast a number
of times. having private interests in Cali
fornia, and / have been in your neighbor-
hood. but never in this city until today.
I had supposed. at the time, that Seattle
was a secondary town. of ephemeral
growth, but subsequent information and
this personal visitation has convinced me
that this is the Puget sound city of the
present and future.
If there were no other guide to the In
quirer your banks alone would tell the tale.
When three of these have each over 8, 500.
000 on deposit and the others have enough
hood of E,000.000 there is no need to ask
IL this Is Wild. unsubstantial town. The
time was. doubtless. when you required
money from the East and had to get 1t on
almost any terms, but with this bank show
ing Ii is evident that you have plenty OF
money here at home and l dare cay the
banks will tell you that they are actually
sending money to the East. This country
here Is no longer matter OF doubt or mis-
trust and Eastern money is not now asking
as to the stability of your business and
ticuAr investment for which Il is wanted.
TO illustrate this may say that a gen.
tleman, whose name cannot disclose.
Travelled with me from the East. and over
the Great Northern. who represents $4,000.
now actually on deposit and ready for In
vestment In q way that will interest Seat
tie people. He knows all he wants about
conditions i'm the Northwest and only seeks
personal knowledge of locations and OF the
character of the proposed investment"
The congressman spoke very encourage
ingly OF the general condition of the coun-
try, and. as a Republican. he was gratified
at the apparent certain success OF the party
In the next election.
1.-THE free silver idea is so far gone that
ii Is hard To revive interest In IL and Il
cannot be again made the absorbing issue
OF a national campaign. The attack on
what Is called expansion and the war IL
too much out Of accord with the popular
sentiment to amount to a real issue. and as
both parties are opposed to trusts do not
see what hope the Democrats can have Of
success in their fight. II they could shake
of Bryan and substitute some conservative.
level-headed man. they might do better, but
Mr.. Bryan Is riding them to DEATH
Mr.. Warner will leave this morning for
Alaska on the Queen In company with Con-
greesmen Payne. Daizel. Hull. Heatwole
and Steele. On his return he will stay sew
eral days I'm Seattle and says he hopes to
form large acquaintance with Its institu-
tons and people.