The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-23
CONCESSION IN THE SEA
FOR GOLD MINIMIZING GRANTED BY THE
SECRETARY OF WAR.
SENATE RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
Into these Charges Made Through the
Governor of Alaska-The Alaska Code
and the Porto Rico Bills Before the
Senate for n Short Time Sharp Per-
sonalities Indulged I'm on the Floor OF
the House During Discussion OF the
Loud Bill.
SENATE.

Washington, March 21-Upon the au-
thority of the governor Of Alaska,
Senator Turner, of Washington, made
the statement in the senate today that
concessions for gold mining in the bed
Of the sea near Cape Nome, Alaska,
had been granted by the secretary of
war, and upon that statement he based
resolution of inquiry. Senator Turn
er said if such a grant had been made
it was "a shame, a reproach and a
scandal" The resolution was agreed
to.
In a few minutes and without dis
cussion. the additional urgent defcien-
cy bill was passed. with one or two
other measures of Importance.
Senator Turner's resolution directed
the secretary Of war to inform the
senate whether any concessions to ex-
cavate the gold-bearing bed in the bed
of the sea. in the vicinity OF Cape
Nome. Alaska. or il. other Alaskan
waters. have been made to any indi-
vidual or corporation or association by
the secretary or any other war depart
ment official. and if so. upon what
theory such grant was made.
THE secretary of war;" said Mr..
Turner. has jurisdiction over the
nayigable waters in the rivers and
harbOrS of the United States and at
various times has given to private in
dividualS authority to excavate the
bed Of such waters for proper pur-
poses. Now, if this authority has
been stretched to cover such conces-
sion as that mentioned in the resolu
ton it is a shame. a reproach and
scandal
Senator Wolcott. of Colorado, said
that in view of this extraordinary
statement the secretary of war would
be anxious to answer any proper in
quiry touching it. If such a concession
had been granted it was clearly vio-
lation of the law. Senator Carter said
1T certainly could not be in cOntempla-
ton Of the secretary of war to give
mining leases without semblance of
law.
adopted" said Senator Carter. las I'm
satisfied the response will show the
secretary has not arrogated to himself
such power" r. ..e...,., !.
The resolutions were agreed to.
| Senator Hale called up the measure
making appropriations to supply addi-
tional urgent deficiencies. The COM
| mittee amendments thereto were
agreed 10 and the bill was passed
| without comment.
! The bill to provide a civil code for
the district of Alaska was then taken
| up for consideration. The committee
amendments were agreed to. After
some other minor amendments the bill
| was laid aside and the Porto Rico bill
taken up.
The bill, after some discussion of the
! creation of a United States court on
the island was laid aside.
The senate then at 3 o'clock went
| into executive session and two hours
later adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Mr.. Dalzell. of Pennsylvania, from
| the committee on rules, presented {
| report from that committee for tn,
appointment of a special committee O
nine to consider all proposed legisla
| tion relative to the celebration of tn
| Tooth anniversary of the purchase o
the Louisiana territory, at St Louis il
1903. and the speaker appointed th
| committee.
The house then resumed the consid
Grafton of the Loud bill.
| Mr.. Loud has agreed to accept tW'
amendments. one to increase the mum
ber of sample copies which newspaper
| can send out at second class rates from
500 to 1000 and the other to limit tn
provision requiring newspapers to sep
arate their mail to those having il
| excess OF o,UUU clrCuldIlOn.
Mr.. Griggs, of Georgia, said tha
two-thirds of the members who woul
vote against it would do SO under
Misrepresentation and because they di
not care to take the trouble to NEE
the objections of constituents who di
not understand the measure.
Mr. Lentz argued that the secon
class privileges for mail matter mus
be considered part Of the educationa
4 of hn pfrEy hoI =;
desk and the surrounding desks pile
high with the books of standard au
thors and poets which he said wer
| placed within the reach of the hum
blest boys and girls because they hav
access to the mail at pound rates. H
created considerable enthusiasm bot
on the floor and in the galleries as h
appealed for a continuation Of thes
privileges.
Mr.. Mcpherson, Of Iowa, IN supper
of the bill. denounced the lobby which
he said. was infeSting the corridors an
galleries of the house, carrying on
| corrupt campaign against the measur,
During the course of his remarks III
Hill, OF Connecticut, rising to a Ques
ton of privilege, stated that literatur
| in opposition to the bill was being dis
| tributed on the floor of the house b
the pages. He demanded that the rul
be enforced. The speaker directed tn
employees of the house to cease dis
tribut5Hg the documents.
Mr.. Mcpherson. proceeding, attacke
Mr.. Lentz, creating something of
sensation by characterizing him as tn
attorney for the lobby.
Mr.. Lentz was not on the floor a
the time. but Mr.. Richardson, the mi
nority leader. promptly called Mr.. Nc
Pherson to order.
Mr.. MCPHERSON withdrew the wor
attorney" and was allowed to pro
| ceed.
Later, Mr.. Lentz, on a question o
privilege, replied to Mr. Mcpherson
expressing surprise that a member
even with the limited experience in tn
rules or decency enjoyed by the gen
tleman from Iowa, should have charge