The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-21
Senate Passes a Bill Establish
ing 80 Places
At Salaries of So, 900 a Year
and Perquisites.
COURT REPORTERS
To Be Appointed by Judges Of
Federal Courts.
House Takes Up st. Louis
Worlds Fair Matter.

Washington, March 21.-Soon after
the senate convened today Mr.. Turner
Wash.) offered a resolution directing
the secretary of war to inform the SEN
ate whether any concessions to exea-
vate the gold bearing bed of the sea in
the vicinity of Cape Nome, Alaska, or
in other Alaskan waters, have been
made to any individual or corporation
or association by the secretary of war,
or any other war department official,
and If so, upon what theory Of author
tty such grant was made.
In response to an inquiry as to the
information which had prompted the
resolution, Mr.. Turner said he had been
informed by the governor of Alaska,
who was now in the city, that the war
department had granted exclusive
rights to certain persons to mine the
bed of the sea near Cape Nome.
IF this be true" he said, sit is a.
shame, a reproach and a scandal
The resolution was agreed to. Mr..
Pettigrew offered and secured the pas
sage of a resolution directing the sec
retary of war to inform the senate what
were the qualifications of voters in the
approaching elections in Cuba, who
prescribed the qualifications, the pur-
pose of the election and who would
have charge of it.
Mr.. Hale called up the measure maxi
ing appropriations to supply additional
urgent deficiencies. The committee
amendment thereto was agreed to, and
the bill was passed without comment.
Mr.. Carter called up his motion to re-
consider the vote by which the senate
yesterday adopted a resolution allowing
a messenger to every senator.
The motion prevailed and the resolu-
tion was referred to the committee on
contingent expenses.
A bill to authorize the judges of the
district courts of the United States to
appoint stenographic reporters and de-
f0r71iTR the d11tiQS and CONDENSATION
of such reporters was passed. The bill
provides for the appointment of ninety
court reporters in the United States, at
a salary salary of $1,000 each extra pay
court proceedings supplied
The bill to provide a civil code for
the district of Alaska was then taken
up for consideration.
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, March 21.-When the
house met today Mr.. Daizen CPenn)
from the committee on rules. presented
a report from that committee for the
appointment of a special committee of
nine to consider all proposed legislation
relative to the celebration of the one
hundredth anniversary of the purchase
of the Louisiana territory. at st. Louis.
in 1903
The speaker appointed the following
committee: Messrs- Tawney CMinn),
Steele Qnd.), Sherman IN. ", JOY
| (To0. Corliss CAIich.) Burke IS. d., Re
dAl0 0hCSSA >. " Al44dAAAo N1AA7Dyf
Bartlett (Ga.), and Otey Wa-), Demo-
Gratis.
The house then resumed the consider
alton of the Loud bill relating to Sec
ond-class mail matter.
| Mr. Bromwell (Ohio) was the first
speaker. He advocated the passage OF
the bill.
Mr. Griggs CGa.) also supported the
| bill. He said that two-thirds of the
members who would vote against it
would do so under a misapprehension
and because they did not care to take
the trouble to meet the objections of
| constituents who did not understand
| the measure.