The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-12
PRAISE FOR alaska BILL.
Seattle Lawyer Says 1t Will
Prove Very Satisfactory.
SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES.
William III. Lewis, Who Has Just
Returned From washington, ID.
c., Reviews the Measure-Bearing
ON situation mt Cape Nomc-Pub-
lie Schools and Local Taxation
Provisfons-Amen Unlikely.

A thorough understanding of the Alaska
code bill now pending in congress, and
especially OF the sections affecting the
Cape Nome gold fields, was gained at
Washington City by William H. Lewis, a
well known Seattle lawyer, who returned
yesterday with his family from protract-
ed visit TO California and the East. lie
believes that the new code, II adopted,
will be found satisfactory TO the people OF
Alaska 1t is now awaiting the action of
the house OF representatives, and will, MI.
Lewis thinks, be passed soon without any
material additions or amendments.
Il spent some tino In California, SAID
Mr.. Lewis yesterday, with prominent
stockholders In the Skagway Light &
Water Company, OF which / am manager,
and then went on to Washington to study
the Alaska legislation for them and for
other friends of mine who are interested
at Cape Nome. l spent several weeks IN
Washington and other Eastern cities, as
well AS Montreal and Ottawa. In Canada
THE most interesting work | did during
my stay in the East was learning the
exact legal status OF the miners upon the
Cape Nome beaches. / was also, of course.
greatly interested in the entire Alaska code
bill That bill passed the senate the gay
before left, and will / am sure, be found
very satisfactory.
Senator Carriers Great Task.
1T is largely the work of Senator Car
ter, of Montana, ana he has been engaged
upon II for the past two years The fact
that the code was allowed to pass tho
senate practically without amendment, not
ments offered by individual senator's on
behalf OF friends or constituents speaks
well foe its merits and for the confidence
the other members Of the senate repose
THE section of the bill which will be
most interesting TO Seattle people is sec
ton 20. referring TO mining claims, mineral
locations, etc, In Alaska This was in
oorporated into tho code by Senator Car
ter in lieu of the Lacey DILL In the house
and other measures which deal solely with
the mining questions. IL was one OF the
first sections considered by the sena.e, and
after considerable debate was finally
amended so that 1t reads as follows
/" See. 90 The laws OF the United States
relating to mining claims mineral Local
tons and rights incident thereto are here
by extended to the district of Alaska; pro-
yided that, subject only to such general
limitations as may be necessary 10 exempt
navigation from artificial distractions. all
land and shoal water below mean high
tide on the shores, bays and inlets OF
Boring sea within the jurisdiction OF the
Uaited States shall be subject to explora-
tias far gold and other precious metals by
scitize M OF the United States, or persons
wiz have legally declared their Intentions
to become such. under such reasonable
rules and regulations as the miners in or
gani3ed mining districts may have hereto
fore made or may hereafter make gcvern-
ing the temporary possession thereof for
exploration and mining purposes until
otherwise provided by law provided fur
tier. that the rules and regulations estab-
lished by the miners shall not be In con-
flies with the mining laws of the United
States. and all permits heretofore granted
authorizing any person or persons. cor
poration or company to excavate or mine
under any OF said waters are hereby re-
vokad and declared nun and void and the
rA4 ~ n al u L aAt MID
undsr the tenth section of the act of May
a. 1898 entitled AN act extending the
homestead laws and providing for right.
of-way for railroads In tho district OF
Alaska, and for other purposes" shall not
apply to mineral lands or townsites.'
Dredging Permits Necessary.
AS will be noticed. this section provides
that all land and shoalwater or tidelands
below the mean or average high tide line
ON Bering sea shall be under the jursdie-
ton or miners meetings. that Is, that the
miners In duly organized mining districts
shall provide regulations for taking the
gold from that portion OF the beach, and
this naturally includes dredging for gold
out TO the three-mile line, TO which the
jurisdiction OF the United States extends.
while II was contemplated by the act
THAI permits should not be required from
the secretary of war. II is evident that the
cluause making the miners regulations
subject to such general limitations as may
he necessary 10 exempt navigation from
artificial distractions win give the secre-
tery OF war or his subordinates Jurisdic-
ton TO the extent of providing the gem
eral limitations referred TO-
ut is usual In providing for tho location
OF land under any new land law TO pre-
scribe that such locations shah be nade
subject 70 regulations made by the seore-
tary OF the interior. There IL no such pro-
vision In this act, Il being merely provided
that the rules and regulations established
by the miners shall not be In conflict with
the nsning laws OF the United States
fNt fFvn utRF 4Hfatr..
IN the section Is that which amounts 20 n
construction OF the act OF May II, 1893, re-
serving roadway sixty feet wide along
the shores OF navigable waters The bill
provides that this reservation Of a road
way shall not apply to mineral lands or
townsites.
ton will he 60 protect the owners OF
claims located on tho beach in accordance
with the mineral laws OF the United States
down TO the line ot average high tide,
leaving open To future location under
miners regulations only that portion OF
the beach below said average high tide
line.
section s6 as have given g. the senate
haREled over the question OF location az
mineral claims or the holding OF land by
aliens for nearly two weeks. until II was
evident an AGREEMENT could not be
reached and the discussion would 20 on
until II was too late 20 get the bin through
at this session. Consequently on May /
the senator's on hoth Sides agreed 10 drop
the discussion, cut out all disputed points
and let the btu so through without fur
Their amendment. which was done.
No Amendments Probable.
'tot course the bill will now go 90 The
house and must ho passed there 1 waH
very clad 90 read In the Post-Iutelisoncer
OF the telegram the Chamber of Commerce
sent 20 Speaker Henderson, ursiNx imme-
data action, l believe e VIII have coo4
results White OF course n Ia possible
that the senate bin will be radically
amended ia the house. q IL not proh9 Sic
TRAIT serious changes win be made The
bill has bean very care fully drawn and
n 10 improb able that In The Short time that
Will b eiYen for itS discussion IN the house
anv attempt VIII Re made 70 mako ma
tsr!al changes