The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-28
ALASKAN MINING GRANTS.
Recent Permits to Gold Seekers Dis
cussed in the senate.

Recent Permits to Gold Seekers Dis
cussed in the senate.
At the close Of the routine morning
! business yesterday the Senate proceeded
to the consideration Of the bill making
further provisions for a civil government
for Alaska. The amendment proposed by
Mr. Hansbrough. to prohibit the issuing
Of mining permits TO aliens. which was
pending at the hour Of adjournment on
the day before. was temporarily laid aside
and Mr.. Carter in charge of the bill Of
fared the following amendment:
Provided. That subject only TO such gen
eral limitations as may be necessary to
exempt navigation from artificial obstruc-
uons all land and shoal water below mean
high tide on the shores. bays and inlets
of Behring Sea. within the jurisdiction of
the United States. shall be subject to OK
ploration for gold and other precious
metals by citizens Of the United States or
persons who have legally declared their
Intentions to become such under such rea-
sonable rules and regulations as the min
ers in organized mining districts may
have heretofore made or may hereafter
make governing the temporary posses
sion thereof for exploration and mining
purposes until otherwise provided by law.
and all permits heretofore granted au-
thorizing any person or persons, corpora
tion or company to excavate or mine un-
der any OF said waters are hereby revoked
and declared null and void"
Mr.. Carter Explains His Amendment
Mr.. Carter, in explanation OF the amend
ment, said that he had, in a personal in
terview, inquired of the Secretary of war
why he had not issued a general order au-
thorizing all persons TO excayate the sands.
instead Of giving special permits. and had
been informed that under existing law
permits were restricted to cases where
they were recommended by the Chief "
Engineers Mr. Carter said that while It
was known that excavations made in Alas
kan waters would be made for gold. these
permits were precisely the same as would
be granted to a person desiring to exca-
vate sand on the shores of New Jersey.
He maintained that the permits granted
by the Secretary of War are simply a pro
lection Of the miner against a law Of the
United States, without which he. would be
unable legally to mine.
In reply to question by Mr. CockreH
Mr.. Carter said that the remedy for this
evil was embodied in the amendment he
had offered Mr.. Wolcott then made some
remarks in further explanation OF the
matter. He said that when the pros
pectors for gold reached Cape Nome they
found on the statute books a law never
intended to apply to the case of eNcIvating
sand for gold. because in the whole his
tory of the world gold has never before
been taken from the sand in the bed Of the
ocean.
The law, he said. was a form of pro-
hibition to prevent any excavation or
dredging OF the shores without the au-
thOrity Of the Secretarv of War, and he
had simply issued permits granting the
required authority. There had been no
favOritism shown, and no desire to ex-
Clude anybody.
Mr.. Jones Of Arkansas read the statute.
and argued that under no proper construc-
tion did it apply to the ordinary shore
line not embraced within the term har-
bors. ports. rOadsteads or navigable
waters He maintained that the part Of
the beach at Cape Nome included within
the spaCe-500 feet from the mean high
water marks not described by any OF
these terms and is, therefore. not affected
by the Law. In a sharp attack upon the
Secretary Of War Mr.. Jones said that il
was evident to him that the permits had
been granted in order to put coustruc-
tion upon the law such as no court OF
justice would give it.
1t is an indefensible outrage he de-
oil g. gfrfarly
by the Secretary to drive honest miners
out of their rights and to give exclusive
privilege to a few people he may deem
responsible. / think this was a deliberate
scheme of a few persons to monOpolize
that rich Cape Nome sand
Mr.. WolCott said that he agreed with
some Of the statements made by Mr. Jones
and he argued that in so far as possible
the mining privileges in Alaska should be
left free to all. He gave it as his opinion
that in so far as possible the existing laws
relative TO placer mining and to the size
Of claim that one person or a corporation
may hold should be made applicable to the
territory. After some further remarks he
proposed an amendment TO Mr.. CarterS
amendment providing that mining laws In
Alaska shall conform as nearly as may be
to laws now existing in the Western
States until definite regulations shall be
pTeSCIlDeu Dy lHt StCIeldlJ Oi tue InLe-
rior
Mr Garter stated his objections TO Mr
WolcOtts proposition and argued in support
OF the original amendment. which would
he said. leave the question temporarily in
the hands OF the miners themselves. no
could arrange it much better than il could
be arranged by a department clerk in
Washington.
Mr. Pettus agreed with Mr. Carter as to
the rule of miners being fair and Just.
Miners. he said. governed themselves by a
vote OF the mining camp. and they would
govern themselves in spite OF any enact
ment Of Congress. He favored Mr.. Car
ter's amendment
The matter was still under discussion at
. o'clock. when the morning hour closed
The conference report on the Pension
Appropriation bill was presented and
agreed to.