The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-05
THE HOUSE.
Bill to Regulate Affairs In Alaska
Under Consideration.

Bill to Regulate Affairs in Alaska
Under Consideration.
Washington January 4-The house spent
| today considering tie bill to define and
punish crimes In ALASKA and provided q
code OF criminal procedure for tie Terri
! tory. Sixty-seven pages were completed
today and the bill was made continuing
| order until disposed of, not, however, 10
| interfere with appropriation bills or Other
special orders.
The house adjourned ont of respect to
the memory OF the late Senator morrill,.
There were less than 100 members on
the floor when the house met at noon today
after the holiday recess but the attend
ance In the galleries was large.
Mr.. Simpson Pop, K'en.) and Mr.. Lewis
fDem, Wash.) appeared in their places
for the first time this session and dttrac tel
considerable attention.
The blind chaplain in his invocation re-
ferred feelimgly to the cyitical Illness OF
Mr., Dingley, the floor leader and prayed
fervently for his speedy recovery.
Under the special order adopted before
the recess the house took up the consdera-
ton OF the bill TO define and punish crimes
in the district OF Alaska and provide a
code of criminal procedure for the district.
The bill was prepared by the commits
penal laws OF the United States.
Mr.. Moody (Rep. Mass.) said as the bill
proposed q code for the government of a
dependency OF the United States II might
be well TO consider whether we We're able
10 deal intelligentiy with dependencies gem
orally. He then launched a bitter attack
upon the section of the bill which re-
pcaled adj laws relating to the sale OF
liquor In the district of Alaska, and made
At only unlawful to sell nquor to Indians,
This was monstrous proposition. he de-
clared, Virtually II meant free rum IN
Alaska, the sale OF liquor without license.
without registration and without restrlc-
ton OF amy kind. Such proposition was
without parallel. IT meant relapse into
barbarian.
While Mr.. Moody was in the midst OF bis
denunciation OF the section In the bill
against which he was directing his assaults.
Mr.. Warner (Rep., Ill.). In charge of the
expense by informing him that tho section
TO which exception was taken was 10 be
amended.
MIR. Maddox Dem. Gs) said that IL Mr..
Moody had waited to hear the amendments
read he would have been without speech.
The bill printed was In precisely the form
in which It came from tho committee The
amendments. he thought. would meet all
objections.
An amendment adopted giving the jury,
In case q verdict OF guilty Of murder In
the first degree was returned. discretion
airy power to infict capital punishment.
When the section was reached r6h.tit-
Ing the sale or gift of Intoxicating liquor |
to Indians Mr.. Moody offered an arieid- |
ment continuing the excise law. which |
prohibits the importation OF liquor except |
for medicinal. mechanical and Ike pur- |
poses.
Mr.. Tongue (Rep.. ore.) said It was ut
terly impossible to enforce the present |
law. Tho inhabitants OF this district will |
not uphold officers OF the law and liquor |
Is openly sold before them.
Several minor amendments were adopt |
ID. sixty-seyen OF the 232 pages OF tho
bill were disposed OF.
The speaker then laid before the house
the memorial resolutions adopted BY the |
senate out OF respect 70 the memory Of the |
late Senator Morrill,
As further mark OF respect the house
then, at>4:25 p m. adjourned.