Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-21
MINING PRIVILEGES
Senator Turner's Resolution of Inquiry
Adopted.
Vote ON MESSENGERS RECONSTRUCTED
The Loud Postal Bill Discussed in
the House.
SPEECHES ON BOTH SIDES

Soon after the Senate conyened today Mr..
Turner CNash3 offered .esolution direct
ing the Secretary of War to inform the Sem
ate whether any concessions to excavate
the gold-bearfng bed of the sea in the vi
entity of Cape Nome, Alaska. or in other
Alaskan waters. have been made to any in
.dividlIaI or corporation or association BY
the Secretary of War or any other War De-
partnent official. and if so. upon what
theory Of authority such grant was made
Mr.. Turner's Explanation.
. IN response to an inquiry as to the infor-
nation which had prompted the resolution
Mr.. Turner said he had been informed by
the governor of Alaska, who was now in the
city. that the War Department had granted
exclusive rights to certain persons to mine
the, bed of the sea near Cape Nome.
The Secretary Of War" said MIR. Turner,
has jurisdiction over the navtgable waters
in the rivers and harbors of the United
States and at various times has given 10
private individuals authority to excavate
the bed of such waters for proper purposes.
Now If this authority has been stretcneo 10
cover such a concession as that mentioned
& in the resolution 1t Is shame, reproach
and 4 scandal. My resolution, l may say
* for the purpose of eliciting such informal
rion as the Secretary of War may have on
the subject.
II. w
extraordinary statement of Mr.. Turner ne
thought the Secretary Of War would De
anxious 10 answer any proper INQUIRY
touching it. If such a concession had been
granted it was clearly violation OF law.
: Mr. Carter said it certainly could not De
in contemplation of the Secretary OF war
To give minor leases without a semoiance
of law Il think the resolution should De
adonfed" said Mr. Carter. las I'm satisfied
the response will show the Secretary has
not arrogated to himself such power The
resolution was agreed to-
Cuban Voters Qualifications.
Mr.. Pettigrew offered and secured the
passage of a resolution directing the Sec
retary of War to inform the Senate what
were the qualifications of voters IN the ap-
preaching elections in Cuba. who prescribed
the qualifications, the purpose of the cleo
ton and who would have charge Of it.
MIR. Hale called uD the measure making
appropria tons to supply additional urgent
deficiencies. The committee amendments
thereto were agreed TO and the bill was
passed without comment.
Messenger Resolution RecOnsidered.
Mr. Carter called up his motion to recon-
slider the vote by which the Senate yester-
day adopted a resolution providing mes
senger to every senator not a chairman of
a standing committee.
The motion prevailed and the resolution
gent expenses
Court Stenographers.
\ bill to authorize the judges of the dis
trict courts Of the United States to appoint
steuographic reporters and determine the
duties and compensation of such reporters
was passed The bill provides for the ap-
pnintment of ninety court reporters in the
United States at a salary Of 5000 each,
extra pay being provided for extra manu-
scripts of court proceedings supplied.
The bill to provide civil code for the
d;Stri,t Of Alaska was then taken up for
cuiISidI Grafton
Porto Rican Tariff Bill.
After some minor amendments had been
disposed Of. the bill was laid aside for the
day and consideration of the Porto Rican
bill was resumed.
Mr.. Foraker. in charge of the measure.
offered number of formal amendments
relating - the holding of the courts of
Porto Ric" and TO the phraseology of the