The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-27
HARRIS CALLS
FOR PAPERS.
Kansas Senator Demands Light
on Charges Filed
In Relation to Governor Barnes
of Oklahoma.
ALASKA CODE BILL.
Amendment to Put Beach Under
Mining Laws.
Porto Rican Bill Again Taken
Up Fer Final Action.
Washington Stars Charges Dis
cussed In the House.

W dSlll1S MARCH Zt--0OOn after
the senate convened today, a resolu-
ton offered by Senator Harris (Kansas)
calling upon the secretary of the inter
ior to furnish the senate all papers or
charges relating to c. NJ Barnes, COVER
nor of Oklahoma, fled with the depart
ment either before or after the appoint
ment of Governor Barnes, was agreed
to. At the conclusion of routine BUSH
ness, consideration of the Alaska civil
code bill was resumed, the pending
question being the amendment of Mr..
HanSbrOugh as to the mining claims
held by Laplanders in the Cape Nome
district.
This was laid aside temporarily and
Mr. Carter in charge of the measure Of
fered the following amendment:
That subject only to such general
limitations as may be necessary to ex-
empt navigation from artificial obStruc-
tions all land and shoal water below
mean high tide on the shores, bays and
inlets of Bering sea, within the jurisdic-
ton of the United States shall be sub
ject to exploration for gold and other
precious metals by citizens of the
United States or persons who have
legally declared their intentions to be-
come such under such reasonable rules
and regulations as the miners in orga-
nized mining districts may have here
tOfore made or may hereafter make
governing the temporary possession
IneTeOl IOF exploration ana mining puf-
poses until otherwise provided by law
and all permits heretofore granted
authorizing any person or persons, cor
poratiOn or company to eXcavate or
mine under any of said waters are here
by revoked and declared null and void.'
At 2:15 p. m. the Porto Rico bill was
taken up by the senate and Mr.. Stew
art (Nev.) addressed the senate in op-
position to the tariff.
WASHINGTON STARS CHARGES.
Washington, March 27.-The house to-
day without preliminary business re-
sumed consideration of the army appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Talbot IS. c., the
first speaker, complained of the vast ex-
travagance involved in the bill, and re-
piled to some of the criticisms passed
upon him for his course in regard to the
private pension legislation. Mr.. Pierce
CTenn) who stirred up something of d
hornets nest last Saturday by bringing
to the attention of the house inter-
view in a local paper with an alleged
Republican representative, charging
that the Porto Rico tariff was the result
of a bargain for campaign funds read
that newspapers affirmation yesterday
of the interview. He also read Senator
Hanna's denunciation of the story that
the Porto Rico tariff bill was framed
for the purpose of raising Republican
campaign fund and challenged an in
vestigatiOn of the charge. Mr.. Steele
(Rep., Ind) engaged Mr.. Pierce and
there was a sharp exchange.
Mr.. Steele said he would not believe
the anonymous Republican congress-
man, who is alleged to have told the
story, on oath.
Mr. Pierce said he did not believe
any man employed on the newspaper
would deliberately misrepresent the
facts and from surrounding circum-
stances he CPierce) was inclined to think
the story was true.
Mr.. Steele want to know how the
Porto Rico tariff bill could be used to
raise a campaign fund.
iad Tof he ~
give the exact steps but that vast sums
of money had been raised by the Repub-
lican party in 1886 from various quar-
ters could not be denied. The contrib
utors in one instance had even logged
the memory of the secretary of the
treasury and he had not dared to resent
the insult. Democratic applause.)
Mr.. Hepburn (Rep., Iowa) said that
if an investigation were ordered in all
human probability when the editor of
the paper was asked to furnish the
name of the Republican credited with
the statement he would refuse to give
! it. If he did, Mr. Hepburn asked Mr.
Pierce if he and his colleagues would be
willing to punish him for refusing.
Il will cross that bridge when I come
| to it, replied Mr.. Pierce, amid Republi-
can jeers; but" he added, s. 1 believe
the paper told the truth"
Mr.. Williams (Aiss) discussing Porto
| Rican tariff questions, challenged the
| other side to name single reason for
I
| island that existed now which did not
! exist when the president said it was
I our plain duty" and manifest Justice
to give free trade to the island.
Mr.. Steele Qnd.) accepting the chal-
| lenge said it had been ascertained that
the British consul, Finley, at San Juan,
who was exceedingly anxious for free
! trade, was one of the largest sugar pro-
ducers in the island. His interest had
| been purely selfish.
Mr.. Williams rfdiculed the explanation
| as absurd.
The house continued to debate the
army bill during the afternoon Mr.
| Sulzer IN. " took occasion to denounce
| the war in South Africa and declared
it was the duty of the United States to
| interfere and insist on peace.
Mr.. Hull QoWa) in charge of the bill.
at this point reverted to the charges by
Mr.. Pierce earlier in the day. As a
member of the Republican campaign
committee. he said he was interested in
the allegations. He said that no man
| worthy Of belief would make such
charges and withhold his name from
the public. He did not believe the man
would ever dare to avoW himself and he
| branded him as a falsifier He also ex-
/ pressed his doubt as to the propriety of
newspapers printing such anonymous
statements. He called attention to the
character of some of the literature still
being circulated in the Philippines This
literature described alleged public meet
ings held in different parts of the coun-
try in the interest of the insurgent
cause.
At one of them held in New York, the
Democratic party was represented as
having endorsed Aguinaldo's cause anC
the insurgents were appealed to hold
on until after the presidential election
when their allies in this country would
see that the stars and stripes were re
moved from the islands.
Mr.. Parker IN. j. discussed the sub
ject of army reorganization at somt
length, and was followed by Mr. Sulzel
IN. ", the ranking minority member