The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-01-12


The first session Of the Senate after the
holiday recess was held on Wednesday
and occupied only fourteen minutes, al
though in that brief time two open ses
slons and one executive session were held
The galleries were filled with spectators,
the general expectation being that the
peace treaty would be presented. The
senatorial members of the peace commits
sion appeared on the floor and were given
a hearty greeting In the absence of the
Vice-President Mr.. Frye (Maine). the
president pro tenn, called the Senate to
order. and after the chaplain had extolled
the late Senator Morrill, of Vermont Mr..
Frye recognized Major Pruden. assistant
secretary to the President. who presented
a message containing the treaty of Paris
Ihe House spent the opening day con-
sidering the bill to define and punish
crimes in Alaska and provide a code of
criminal procedure for the territory Six
ty-seven pages were completed, and the
blii was made a continuing order until
disposed of. not. however, to interfere
with appropriation bills or other special
orders. The blind chaplain in his invoca-
ton referred feelingly to the critical i'll
ness of Mr.. Dingley. the floor leader. and
prayed for his speedy recovery When the
Alaska bill was taken up Mr.. Moody
(Rep.. Mass.) said that as the bill pro-
posed code for the government of de-
tendency Of the United States, it might
be well to consider whether we were able
to deal intelligently with dependencies
generally. He then launched bitter at
tack upon that section of the bill which
repealed all existing laws relating to the
sale of liquT in the district of Alaska,
and made it only unlawful to sell liquor
to Indians. 1t was a monstrous PROPOSE
ton. he declared. Virtually 1t meant free
rum in Alaska-the sale of liquor without
license. without regulation and without
restriction of any kind. An amendment
was adopted giving jury in case a YER
ilct of guilty of murder in the first degree
was returned discretionary power to in
dict capital punishment. When the sec
ton was reached prohibiting the sale or
gift of Intoxicating liquors to Indians Mr..
Moody offered an amendment continuing
the existing law. which prohibits the i'm
portation of liquor. except for medicinal.
mechanical and like purposes. Mr.. Tongue
tRep.. Ore.) said it was utterly impossi-
ble to enforce the present law. The in
habitants of this district will not uphold
officers of the law and liquor is openly
sold. Several minor amendments were
adopted. The Speaker then laid before
the House the Senate memorial resolu-
lions regarding Senator Morrill,. As a
further mark of respect the House ad-
iourned
Little business except that of a routine
character was transacted by the Senate on
Thursday. A resolution offered by Mr..
Hoar of Massachusetts directing the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations to report to
The Senate whether the treaty of Paris
makes any provision for the claims of citi-
seiis of the United States against Spain
which were in existence before the present
war, and the status of such claims after
the ratification of the treaty. was adopted.
MIR. Gallery of Louisiana continued and
practically concluded his speech begun be-
Tore the holiday recess in opposition to the
aending Nicaragua canal bill. Bills were
passed to ratify agreements with the
Lower Brule and Rose Bud reservation
indians, to grant California ) per cent of
the net proceeds of cash sales of public
lands in the State and classifying clerks
In first and second class postoffices. The
Judiciary Committee had the right of way
In the House for three hours and the fol-
lowing bills of minor Importance reported
from the committee were passed: To pro-
vide additional circuit judges for the third
and sixth judicial districts; to regulate
the terms of court in the eastern district
IF Tennessee and the district of Butte,
Mont; to retire Cassius 9. Foster, United
States district judge of Kansas; to amend
the Revised Statutes so as to allow the
United States five peremptory challenges
N criminal cases; to permit ship owners
10 file indemnity bonds; to allow legally
appointed guardians of insane persons to
prosecute patent claims and to release
the International Cotton Press Company
Of New Orleans from liability for So, ,4S9
IF internal revenue taxes. The remainder
Of the day WAS occupied in continuing the
consideration of the bill to codify the laws
IF Alaska. Some twenty-one pages were
disposed of, making eighty three in all of
the 30 pages. :-.I
Immediately after the Senate convened
,n Friday the resolution offered the previ-
JUS day by Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts,
calling on the President for information
as to the instructions of the commissioners
who negotiated the treaty of Paris, to-
yether with all correspondence and re-
ports relating to their work, was laid be-
fore the Senate. Chairman Davis, one of
the commissioners, desired that it be re-
Terred to the Foreign Relations Commit
tee, but Mr.. Hoar insisted that the Sem
ate had as much right to such information
rs the members of the Foreign Relations
Committee. and that the President should
determine whether the Senate should
have it. The resolution was adopted in
secret session. In support of, the resolu-
lion offered by Mr.. Vest of Missouri. in
opposition to expansion, Mr.. Caffery of
Louisiana delivered an extended speech.
The anti-ciyil service rcformers scored a
victory in the House. The legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation bill
was taken up for consideration and when
he appropriation for the civil service COM
mission was reached Mr.. Evans (Rep) of
Kentucky made a motion to strike it out.
The motion to strike out carried by a
narrow majority, ca to G1. During gem
eral debate on the bill Mr.. Swanson
DEM of Virginia delivered Il speech on
News of Minor Note.
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