Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-12
The PEACE TREATY.
It Is Sent to the Senate by the Pres
ident with a Short Note.
ALASKA CRIMES BILL IN The HOUSE
The biii for ths Retirement 0f Unt
Stni-s Judge otter, OF Kansas, Re-
ported Favorab y from the
committee on Judiciary.

sion OF the senate after the holiday re
cess occupied only IA minutes, although
In that brief time two open sess on
and one executive session was held
The senatorial members Of the peac,
commiss on appeared on the floor ant
were given hearty greeting by theil
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.
pensed with. The motion prevailed.
Senator Frye, who was in the
chair Immediately recognized Mai
Pruden, assistant secretary to the pres
ident, who presented 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
eign relations. In few minutes the
senate recoavened in open session, and
Senator Allison announced the death
of Senator Morrill, The usual resolu.
tions were adopted, and as a 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 it was. This was a
simple letter of transmittal 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
mttee 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 was less
less than 100 members on the floor
when the house met at noon yes
terday after the holiday recess. The
Bind chaplain in his invocation re-
ferred feelincly to the critical illness
of Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader, and
prayed for his speedy recovery. Under
special rule adopted before the re.
cess, the house took up the considera-
ton of the bill to define and punish
crimes in Alaska and provide code of
criminal procedure for the district. An
amendment was adopted giving a
jury, in. case verdict of guilty Of
murder in the first degree was re-
turned, discretionary power to inAct
capital punishment
When the section was reached pro-
hibiting the sale or gift of Intoxicating
liquors to Indians, Mr.. Moody, of Mas
sachusetts, offered an amendment con-
tinuing the existing law, which pro-
hibits the importation Of liquor except
for medical, mechanical and like pur.
poses
Mr. Tongue, of Oregon, said it was
utterly impossible to enforce the pres
ent law. The inhabitants of this dis.
trict will not uphold officers of the
law 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
to the memory of the late Senator
Morrill,. As further mark of respect
tho house then, at 4.25 p m, ad.
ar. Lewis, of Washington, intro
duced resolution providing for an
inquiry by any house committee ap.
pointed to investigate the conduct of
the 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
the subject matter and persons con-
nected herewith to an appropriate
grand .ury of the United States, to
inquire into and present such indict-
ment or presentment for obtaining
money by false pretenses or for the
cheat and swindling of the United
States, or of any of her departments"
The bill providing for the retirement
of United States Judge Foster, of Kan.
sas, was reported favorably from the
house committee on Judiciary.
Roosevelt Favors Woman suffrage.