Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-09-28

called a meeting for the purpose of re-
organizing the district. There were
over 800 American citizens at this
meeting, but they were dispersed by
Walker and his troops at the point of
the bayonet. Judge Johnson, the only
judge in Alaska at that time, held a
weeks term of court at Nome late in
the fall of 1898, but would not hear
any cases involving the title to these
valuable claims. At the close of this
brief term Judge Johnson resigned his
position on the bench and became an
attorney for Mr.. Lane. He was one
among the great array of legal talent
that appeared before Judge Morrow
and had Judge Noyes reversed"
When congress convened last winter
the Alaska code bill was introduced in
both houses. This bill is %predicated
largely upon the Oregon state code, but
strangely enough contained aprovision
confirming title to mining property To-
Gated by aliens in Alaska. When the
bill was being considered in the SEN
ate an amendment was introduced pro-
viding that the question of title to orig
inal mining locations should be deter
mined by the local courts. This
brought on one Of the most remarkable
n interesting debates ever heard in
the senate and the discussion ran
through a whole month of the session.
Lawyers on both sides of the contro-
versy thronged the corridors of the
capitol. Charles Lane, who is alleged
to have been a liberal contributor to
democratic campaign funds, SEM a
large number of people to Washington
to fight the anti-alien amendment.
Senator Jones, Mr.. Bryan's chairman,
championed the cause Of Mr.. Lane, and
organized an opposition to the amend
ment which openly threatened to de-
feat the entire bill. Under the rules
OF the senate allowing unlimited de-
bate this would have been an easy
matter, and the friends of the amend
ment, to save the bill which gave
Alaska a much-needed form of govern
ment, withdrew the anti-alien PROPOSE
ton. The provision which confirmed
the alien titles was also struck out,
and the bill became a law. 1t pro-
vided among other things for three
judges in Alaska. A. H. Noyes, of
Minneapolis, was chosen as one of the
judges. He was recommended by the
solid Minnesota delegation, and had
most flattering Endorsements from
leading members of the bar through
out the northwest. He was assigned
to the Nome district.
Alexander Mckenzie went to Nome
in July last having organized a strong
company to engage in the business Of
mining in Alaska. His company had
purchased about Is claims along the
beach and creeks about Nome, and a
large quantity of specially manufac-
tured machinery was taken in to sluice
the gold from the auriferous sands.
Being a man of large property and
splendid business attainments, he was
selected as receiver of the Anvil Creek
properties for the possession of which
Blake's friends and Mr.. Lanes unnat-
uralized Laplanders are contending.
The contest for the final possession
of the property will in all probability
be long drawn out. The claims are
said to be immensely rich. Similar
cases have gone to the highest federal
court where in effect it was held that
an alien is not a competent locator,
and that his assignee cannot acquire
title as against an intervening right
regularly initiated by a citizen of the
United States. If the effect of the
pending litigation is TO GUST the re-
ceiver and allow Lane and the Laps to
work the mines, the gold will be taken
out by them and put through the minis
long before the title is adjudicated.
Should the receivership be sustained
the gold will be stored away, under
the order of the court, to await the set
Element of the question Of ownership,
and be turned over to the persons who
are successful in the suit.
There are excellent reasons for be-
lieving that Mr.. Tillman never at
tempted to read the Declaration of In
dependence to a South Carolina aud
fence.
A man walking up Main street yes
terday was heard remarking to a
friend: Those suits and overcoats
we saw in Dahl's store are certainly
the best and incest I have ever seen
for the prices they ask for them"