The state herald., 1900-03-23

bill enlnrging the powers and extending
the Jurisdiction of the Interstate Com
merce Commission he would take the
responsibility of reporting 1t favorably
to the Senate without their concur
renee. In consequence Of this threat
there was a full attendance Friday,
when 1t was agreed to give three hear
ings on the three next Fridays to ali
who desire to submit arguments or evil
dence for or against the bill. Senator
Cullom announced that the bill would
then be reported to the Senate for ac-
ton. The representatives. of the -four
interests have charged the opposition
with trying to prevent action by re-
naming away from committee meet
ings, but the hearings now will go on
and the bill will be considered hereaf-
ter, no matter how many are present
The President has pardoned Captain
McCalla of the navy, who was court
martlaled several years ago and SEN
fenced to the loss Of ten numbers in
rank. Captain McCalla is one Of the
ablest and bravest officers in the navy
and was placed In position where he
was compelled either TO suffer humuli-
alton or Violate the rules of the SER
Vice. A court-mnrtial found his gull
ty. He suffered the penalty and was
restored to duty just in time to per-
form not only useful but distinguished
service In command of the cruiser Mar
blehead during the war with Spain.
As recognition of those services the
President has granted him full par
don and restored him to the place he
formerly occupied on the naval list.
The highest compliment that could
have been paid Captain McCalla and
one Of the most striking illustrations of
the generosity md chivalry of the SER
vice was n letter'saddressed to the
President by the ten fellow officers
asking that 1t be made. The President
could not resist such manly appeal.
Senator Depew is very remarkable
man, both for his obliging disposition
as well as for his intellectual versatile
ty and his physical endurance. On Fri.
day night he made an elaborate ad-
dress to the Yale alumni In Washing,
ton. Saturday morning he went 10
New York with the Gridiron Club ana
made the principal speech at the din
ner given in its honor by the Lotus Club
of that city. He returned to Wash
ington on Sunday and Sunday night de-
livered an address In behalf of the
Boys Republic at the Columbia thea
ter. at which the President and other
distinguished men were present AT
the close of his speech he took the
midnight train for New York, where
tonight he is to deliver another
speech of an hours length before an
association of business men. He has
two other engagements for public ad
dresses during the week On all OF
these occasions Senator Dcpcw spoke
without notes and without other prep
aration except reflection. and his -four
topics Were rs different as they posi-.
bly, could be.
The House has passed bill to regu-
late beach mining AT Cape Nome. and 1t
is said TO be satisfactory to the several
representatives of Alaskan interests
who are now here trying to get some
kind of legislation under which mining
camps may be organized aud order pre-
served during the rush of next sum.
mer. The act Of 1898 reserves along
the coast and shorts of all waters In
Alaska highway OF sixty feet in
width and the riparian rights as the
property Of the government. Last
year the richest deposits OF gold were
found upon this reservation and the
beach between 1t and low water. which
is termed tide land" Although for.
bidden by % strict Interpretation OF the
law, no power on earth can prevent
the miners from washing the sand
along the seashore, and In order that
they may do so peaceably 1t is neccs-
sary TO make some Kind of regulations
under which 1t nay be permitted.
Congress has been convinced OF this by
the testimony Of evry person who has
come here from Aaska. The effect
of the bill which passed the House
Monday. and is alm,st sure TO pass the
Senate within n fe, days, Is to legal.
lie what the mines at Cape Nome
have already done on their own ne.
count and TO give tie force OF statutes
TO the regulations they adopted for
their own government. II allows indi.
yidunl miners TO locite claims upon the
sea beach, which Is government res
ervatlon, twenty-h-e feet In width.
and miners mcetlneS may on their dis
erection enlarge then to n maximum
limit OF 800 feet In width. II * be.
lieved that this will prcven, lawless-
ness In the struggle for wealth that Is
expected at Cape Nome during the
coming summer.
Sooner or later the Republican party
Will come up against an economical
question which will seem thousand
times more serious than that which
now pcrplcxcs Its leaders In connection
with the government of Puerto Rico,
II VIII be blessing for all concerned
II II can bc settled by the courts before
II reaches Congress. but even then ey.
cry Republican. from the President
down. will be compelled to ndnpt them.
self TO new conditions which the ex.
pansion policy OF their party has ere.
nted. At this session Of Congress the
Republican managers and the high.
tariff protectlonists have been sorcly
disturbed by the reciprocity treaties
which their national convention
pledged the President TO make; by Tho
admission OF Hawaii. which was also
a prominent feature In their platform.
nnd by the Puerto ltican tnrlfr law.
Every new proposition connected with
commercial or territorial expansion
seems TO lit some Industry that IL pro.
iectcd by the tnrin aud to involve the
political future OF one or more itepubli.
can politicians aud the control OF the
House OF Representatives. II the
French reciprocity treaty IN ratified the
New England mud New Jersey mnnu.
fncturcrs win bolt; the wool growers
OF Ohio. Wyoming. Montana and other
states VIII vote the Democratic ticket
II the Argentine treaty goes through:
the sugnr'bcct farmers threaten TO ~.
volt II tho rnclnfnrIiv ircniles with tn