The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-19
War and Interior Departments Are
Not In Condfct on the subject
Each waiting for Congress to
Enact Legislation and to Deter
by Either Now Might Have TO BE
Undone In "a short Wholesome
Law VIII He Enacted. bat Its
EMDa Provisions Are Uncertain.

interior DEPARTMENTS have locked horns
over Nome beach rights. Both depart
ments are keeping hands of entirely, In
the expectation Of legislation during the
present session of congress. Under other
circumstances the war department might
be willing 10 issue permits for dredging,
but just now large number OF sppiica-
tions to carry on such work along the. Al
askan coast are held UP by the secretary
on the ground that there is no telling
what aetion congress may take, and he
does not wish to do anything that might
have to be done differently within two
or three months.
The interior department takes the same
view OF the case. although Commissioners
Hermann of the general land office, has
unoffscially given an opinion that twenty
acre claims for mining purposes could not,
under existing law. be held to apply 10
tide lands or the sixty-foot reserve. Good
lawyers from Alaska. now here. claim
that the law in question. establishing a
sixty-foot reserve. does not apply TO land
containing gold. or where land adjacent to
the beach has not been taken up home
steads.
Several Bills Pending.
Since the interior department holds TO
the contrary unless congress by new legis-
lation specifically overrules IL, the mat
ter will be taken UP in the courts. 1t is
not possible at this time TO say what leg
islation viii be enacted relative TO the
situation al Cape Nome.
Bills are pending before the public land
committee of the house giving the inter
Tor department. fun authority. and other
bills are before the military committee OF
both houses to give authority over beach
lands 20 the war department. In no
sense. however. can this be construed as
a controversy between the two depart
ments.
None OF the oils are prepared by the
None OF the bills is prepared by the
departments themselves. Their authors
being men who are interested in beach
mining. by dredging or otherwise. and
who have drawn up bills to suit their in
dividual purposes Members oi these COM
rnittees have reached no agreement,
Nothing has been done further than 20
give hearings 10 representatives OF var
ious interests now here.
MiIroy Points Out Needs.
w. J. Mlroy. Of Cape Nome, has given
the committee a fun understanding of
the situation. but says II Is impossible TO
forecast what Will be done. He has point
ed out what be deems bad features of the
various measures. and is confident none
of the bills now before congress will pass
Just as they have been introduced. and
thinks the outlook fairly good for sone
defnIte enactment Representative Jones,
member Of the public lands committee,
SAYS no discussions OF mining bills for Al
yfsA f4xsk p tr ftayr r.rv1fs 4r.s m
a body. Speaking OF hearings held by
the COMMITTEES. he said today.
what ConEre-.man Jones says.
some Of the Aiaskaus row here argue
that no legislation g. needed that aN can
be len 20 the miners themselves. Others
say that congress should TX the size -
claim that can he taken up, but al unite
IA agreeing that powers of attorney In
locating should he abolished. There is
strong seriircn, IN the committee IN
snvor Of no legislation regarding the tide
lands below ordinary high water mark.
and fxlnr the rnasdrnun size of tbs claims
an ,he beach above the hiRh water tine
leaving the rest 70 miners meetings.
claims l0a feet vide on the beach and
no one man 20 se permitted to take up
more than one claim within a distance
Of several rnlies are propositions that
ses-n 20 meet VITA favor in she commit
tee
senator Nelson's BIu Opposed.
n gs openly charged hy representative
81 Alaskan interests TOW in this city that
;hs bill of Senator Nelson's bearing The
sssle Of .'hiu % preserve rivers and har-
eCrx ard other purposes" inapwrrates the
leassnS system FOR all tide lands ana
beach isnds in fhe district o. Alaska
tbroagh the war Department, and taat
this bin, II enacted into Iaw. viii rfTrnif
a monopoly - beach minlng ln thar tls-
trlcf. Il, is also charged that ne attempt
20 have these lands LEASED snd controlled
By the war department Is backed BY
wealthy capitalists, Who are eraesvoFtng
70 obtain control % the best gold-protuc-
ing sections throughout Alaska
II Is claimed that this system would pro-
auce resulis n0w governing the Canadian
placer aslds. and would work the uttes
sessrnction of riEhss ot Individual miners.
Louisiana College Barned.