Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-22
TO THE FEW FAVORED FIRMS
AND INDIVIDUALS
TO DIG FOR GOLD AT NOME
DENOUNCED IN THE SENATE BIZ
TURNER, OF WASHINGTON.
Said. "If 1t Is True 1t Ii q shame,
n Reproach and a scandaI"-A Res
oIutiOn of Enquiry Agreed TO-A
Sharp Debate in the House Over
Second-Class Mail Matter The
Business of the Day.


Mr.. Turner (Wyo.) offered a resolu-
tiQn directing the Secretary of Wal
to inform the Senate whether any
concessions to excavate the gold bear
ing bed of the sea in the vicinity of
Cape Nome, Alaska, or in other Alas
kan waters, have been made to any
individual or corporation or associa-
ton by the Secretary Of War or any
other war department official, and if
so, upon what theory of authority
such grant was made.
In response to an inquiry as to the
information 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 ex-
elusive rights to certain persons to
mine the bed of the sea near Cape
Nome. IF this is true" he said, "it
is a shame, a reproach and a scandal
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr.. Pettigrew offered and secured the
passage of a resolution directing the
Secretary of War to inform the Senate
what were the qualifications of voters
in the approaching elections in Cuba,
who prescribed the qualifications, the
purpose of the election, and who would
have charge of it.
Mr.. Hale called up the measure max
ing appropriations to supply addi-
tional urgent deficiencies. The com
tomittee amendments thereto were
agreed to and the bill was passed
without comment.
Mr.. Carter called up his motion to
reconsider the vote by which the Sen
ate yesterday adopted a resolution pro-
viding a messenger to every Senator
not a chairman of a standing commit
tee. The motion prevailed and the
resolution was referred to the Commit
tee OF Contingent Expenses.
A bill to authorize the judges of the
District Courts of the United States to
appoint stenographic reporters and de-
termine the duties and compensation
of such reporters, was passed. The
bill provides for the appointment of
ninety court reporters IN the United
States at a salary of 81, 900 each, extra
pay being provided for extra manu-
scripts of court proceedings supplied.
The bill to provide a civil code for
the district Of Alaska was then taken
up for consideration.
The Senate Committee on Civil Ser
vice to-day authorized a favorable re-
port upon the bill introduced by Sena-
tor Plat, of New York, giving prefer
ence to soldiers of the civil var in
positions in the civil service of the
government. The committee recon-
mends an amendment including SOL
diers of the Spanish war and of the
war in the Philippines.
In the executive session of the Sen
ate two efforts to amend the treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain relative to the disposition of
estates were defeated by very decisive
votes. One of the amendments offered
was to strike out Sec. 5 of the agree
extending the same privileges to
each of the two nations in the matter
of acquiring or holding property that
may be extended to any other nations.
The motion to amend was lost, II TO 80.
The other proposed amendment related
to the striking out of the provision
authorizing the Queen of Great Britain
or the President of the United States
to extend the provisions of the treaty
to dependencies of the two countries.
This also was lost on a vote of about
the same proportions as the other. The
principal speeches in support OF the
amendments and in opposition to the
spirit of the treaty were made by Sen
ators Jones of Arkansas. Turner, Pet
tigrew and Sullivan. They were re-
piled to by the Republican members of
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The debate was entirely legal in its
scope. The treaty will be taken up
again tomorrow.
The friends of the Puerto Rico tariff
bill are more confident than ever that
they will be able to pass the measure.
1t Is claimed that the quiet work which
the harmony committee has been do
ing is having effect, and the opponents
of the tariff are not so determined as
they were a short time ago. The argu-
ment is being made that this being
a Republican measure, it ought not TO
be defeated by Republican votes.
During the debate in the House to-
day upon the Loud ill relating to Sec
cnd-class mail matter. there was a
sharp exchange between Mr.. McPher-
son (Rep., Iowa. and 4fr. Lentz
Dem, ohio,) over : charge made by
the former that he Intser was the
attorney for the lobby which il nghtr