The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-03-31
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS
SUMMARY OF THEIR WORK
Number of Bills Pass-The Investiga.
tiOn of the Occur d'Alene Tr0u-
bles-A New Philippine BiIl-NOtes
of the House.

In the Senate.
In the senate Monday morning, Ssnator
Hanna, who is chairman Of the republi-
can national committee, rose to ques-
ton OF personal privilege. He directed
the attention of the senate to an article
published in Washington newspaper
to the effect that member of the house
of representatives had said to represen-
tative of the paper that the Puerto Rican
tariff bill had been agreed upon as a part
of "deap by which the republican party
was to receive large campaign cOntri-
button.
81 don't believe" said Hanna, "that
any republican member Of the house ever
made the statement attributed to him."
He said the statement carried on its face
the evidence that it was false.
81 hope measures will be taken to in
vestigate this statement. l brand it as a
malicious lie."
The resolution offered by Senator Allen
calling on the secretary of war for infor-
nation relative to casualties in the Amer
ican army in the Philippines was then ta-
ken up.
Senator Allen supportd the resolution
in brief speech, after Senator Gallinger
suggested that it ought to 60 to the COM
mite on military affairs.
Senator Gallinger intimated that the
resolution would have the effect of dis
couraging enlistments in the army.
Senator Allen declared that to send the
~
affairs was to destroy and smother it. He
said that owing to the climatic and other
conditions in the Philippines, the Ameri-
can army could not remain there for two
years. He was credibly informed, he said,
that the whole American army would have
to be withdrawn within six months. He
said that illness and suicide among the
troops were on the increase. He believed
the American people were entitled to the
facts. He was prepared, he said, to go so
far as to advise men not to enlist for duty
in the Philippines.
At conclusion of the routine business
Of the senate Tuesday morning the con-
sideration of the Alaskan civil code law
bill was resumed, the pending question
being the amendment of Senator Hans
brough as to mining claims held by Lap
landers in the Cape Nome district. This
was laid aside temporarily and Senator
Carter, in charge of the measure, oAered
the following amendment: THAT sub
ject only to such general limitations as
may be necessary to exempt navigation
from artificial distractions, all land and
shoal water below mean high tide on the
shores, bays and inlets of Bering sea with
in the jurisdiction of the United States
shall be subject to exploration for gold or
other precious metals by citizens of the
United States, or by persons who have
legally declared their intentions to become
such, under such reasonable rules and reg
ulations as the miners in organized mining
districts may have heretofore made OIL
may hereafter make governing the tenn
porary possession thereof for exploration
and mining purposes until otherwise pro-
vided by law, and all permits heretofore
granted authorizing any person, persons
corporations or companies to excavate OF
mine under any of said waters are hereby
revoked and declared null and void"
The Puerto Rican bill was taken uI
in the afternoon by the senate and Senator
Stewart addressed the senate in opposition
to the tariff.
In the senate Wednesday the conference
report on the measure providing addi
tional amounts to supply urgent defc-
iencies was agreed to.
Senator Foraker succeeded in securing
an agreement to vote on the Puerto
Rico tariff and government bill next Tues
day.
After the passage of a number of minol
bills consideration of the Alaskan bill was
resumed.
The substitute offered by Walcott tc
Senator Carter's amendment relating te
the mining of gold in the sea off the Alas
kan coast was defeated by vote of 81 tc
%. The amendment of Senator Garter
was adopted.
The consideration of the Puerto Ricar
, hill was then resumed, Senator Morgan's
free silver amendment being defeated by
vote of Is to 33.
The conference report on the diplo
matte and consular appropriation bill
was agreed to in the senate Thursday
The consideration of the Porto Ricar
tariff and government bill was then re
sumed. Senator Beveridge Of Indian;
addressed the senate in support of thu
proposition for free trade between tn,
United States and Porto Rico.
| The president nominated Capt. Chas
S. Cotton to be rear admiral.
| In the House.
In the house Tuesday Mr.. Pierce, wht
stirred I'm something of a hornets' nes