The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-19
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.


WASHINGTON, April 1s.-During almost
the entire session of the Senate to-day
the Alaskan civil code bill was under con-
sideration. In this connection Mr.. Stew
art. of Nevada, delivered an address of
nearly three hours upon the mining laws
OF the United States and their relation to
the proposed amendment of Mr.. Hans
brough. to the rights of alien Iocaters of
claims. Mr.. Nelson, of Minnesota, Mr..
Carter of Montana, and Mr.. Teller, of
Colorado. discussed the pending amend
ment at length, both Mr.. Nelson and Mr..
Teller being particularly vigorous in their
denunciation of Ii.
When the Senate convened Mr.. Hale re-
ported from the committee on naval af-
fairs a joint resolution drawn originally
by Mr.. Mason. of Illinois, authorizing the
secretary Of the navy to have struck
bronze medals for distribution among GER
tain officers and men Of the North Atlantic
squadron. concentrating naval engage
ments between the forces of Spain and the
United States in the waters of the West
Indies and off the Cuban coast The order,
which appropriates $4,000 was adopted.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Hoar
directing the secretary of war to inform
the Senate how many inmates OF the
National Soldiers Home were colored men
or Indians. In explanation Mr.. A1oar said
that Ii was his desire simply to ascertain
whether there Were sufficient number of
cOlored inmates of such homes as to war
rant separate institutions.
Mr.. Pettus, of Alabama, asked that SINH
lar data concerning the National Insane
Asylums be asked for in the resolution.
1us was agreed to and the resolution was
passed.
Mr.. Gallinger of New HAMPSHIRE. of
fered a resolution calling on the secretary
Of the treasury for the aggregate amount
of revenue derived from the tax on notes,
bank checks, insurance policies, leases,
mortgages, kilograms, express shipments
and medicinal preparations.
Several suggestions were made to include
other articles on which there Is a revenue
tax. Mr. Platt, of Connecticut, suggested
that the information asked for ought to
cover the entire operation of the war rev.
enue act. There was, he said, a desire that
the war revenue act be amended and he
thought the information before the Senate
ought to be full and complete. After some
discussion the resolution went over.
A bill providing that the State of Wyom-
ing be permitted to relinquish to the United
States certain lands heretofore selected and
to select other lands from the public do
main in lieu thereof, was passed.
An effort was made by Mr. Money, of
Mississippi. and several of his Democratic
colleagues to obtain consideration for the
bill to revive and amend an act to provide
for the collection of abandoned property
and the prevention of frauds in insur-
rectionary district within the United States
and acts amendatory thereof.
Strong opposition to the bill developed
on the part of Mr.. Hale, of Maine; Mr..
Chandler, of New Hampshire; Mr.. War
rem. of Wyoming. and others. Mr.. Hale
declared that the bill If passed would sub
ject the United States treasury to a drain
of probably s150,000,0O0
Mr.. Money challenged Mr.. Hale's state
ment, saying that the bill would take no
such amount from the treasury; that IL in
volved only IS. 0O0. 900. and that a trust fund,
for which the measure provided was means
of distribution to its proper owners.
Mr.. Teller, as a friend of the bill, urged
Mr.. Money not to press the measure at
this time, as some further information was
needed by the Senate before it acted upon
the BILL The bill needed amendment, he
said, but he thought 1t would be passed
without serious delay when understood by
the Senate. Mr.. Money gave notice that
he would call up the bill Monday. The
Senate then resumed consideration of
Alaska code bill.