The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-17
FOR MINING At CAPE NOME
Comprehensive Law Finally Framed
in the Senate.
The Power of the Secretary Of War to
Grant Exclusive Privileges Is An.
nulIed. and Mining Is 10 Be
Prosecuted rs Elsewhere.

When the Senate resumed consideration
of the Alaskan civil code bill yesterday
the provision in relation 10 mining at
Cape Nome was modified so as to read as
follows: Provided further. That the rules
and regulations established by the miners
shall be subject to such general rules as
the Secretary of the Interior may pre-
scribe for mining below high tide, and
shall not be in conflict with the mining
laws of the United States
After the amendment had been per-
fected to Mr.. Carters satisfaction, Mr.
Berry offered an amendment to 1t reading
1T being the intention hereof that loca-
tions upon or claims to lands within said
reservation shall be originated only after
the passage and taking effect of this act"
Mr.. Berry said he had information that
company had located some claims along
the beach at Cape Nome in opposition TO
a ruling of the Secretary Of the Interior.
The idea of his amendment. he said. was
to prevent the confirmation Of the title Of
the company which had located its claims
in defiance of the ruling of the Secretary
of the Interior.
Mr.. Carter stated that the Secretary $
ruling was not made until January 8, 1900,
and IL would have been a physical impOs-
sibility for any location of claims TO have
been made since that time by persons go
ing from here. The amendment he said
would disturb every mining claim alon6
Bering Sea. The amendment was defeat
ed-I TO H.
On motion Of Mr.. Pettus. the Senate
struck out the provision heretofore agreed
TO providing that the mining regulations
shall be subject 10 such rules as the Sec
retary of the Interior may prescribe. The
amendment as finally agreed to and in
corporated in the bill follows:
Tha. subject only to such general limitations as
may be necessary to exempt navigation from arti-
fetal obstructions all land and shoal water below
mean high tide the shores, bays, and inlets Of
Bering Sea, within the jurisdiction Of the Uhited
States shall be subject to exploration for gold and
otter precious metals by citizens OF the United
States. or persons who have legally declared their
rules and regulations the miners in organized
mining districts nay have heretofore made Or nay
hereafter make governing the temporary possession
thereof for exploration and mining Pu-poses until
otherwise provided by law Provided, further. That
the rules and regulations established by the miners
shall not be in conflict with the mining laws of the
United States. and all permits heretofore granted
authorizing any person or persons. corporation or
company to excayste or mine under any OF said wa
tiers hereby revoked and declared null snd void
and the reservation Of roadway sixty feet vide
under the tenth section OF the act Of May H. 1898
entitled IAN act extending the homestead laws and
providing for right OF way OF railroads in Alaska
and for other purposes" shall not apply to mineral
lands townsite-
The provision in the bill that no person
over fifty years of age shall be eligible TO
appointment as United States district
judge Of Alaska was stricken out
Mr.. Warren, of Wyoming. offered an
amendment, which was agreed 10. provid-
ing that in case of death. sickness, or alb
sence Of the governor the duties of the
Office shall be performed by the surveyor
general, ex-oficio secretary Of the dis
trict.
The bill was then laid aside and the
Senate held an executive session, after
which, at 4:45 p. m, IL adjourned.