Mr. Sherman to Sir
Julian Pauncefote.
Department of State,
Washington, December 20,
1897.
No. 859.]Excellency: Permit me to call your attention to
a law enacted by the Congress of the United States and approved by the
President on Saturday, December 16, 1897, a copy of which is attached
hereto. You will observe that the purpose of this act is to appropriate
$200,000 to be expended (or so much thereof as may be necessary), in the
discretion and under the direction of the Secretary of War, for the
purchase of subsistence stores, supplies, and materials for the relief
of people who are in the Yukon country or other mining regions of
Alaska, and to purchase transportation and provide means for the
distribution of such stores and supplies.
I am advised by the honorable Secretary of War that in order to carry
into effect the provisions of this act it will be necessary to cross the
territory of the Canadian Government so as to reach the Yukon River
country with the stores, supplies, and materials of which tine people of
that region stand in great need. It is the purpose of the Secretary,
with the permission of the Canadian Government, to promptly proceed to
carry out the humane provisions of this act and to transport the
supplies, accompanied by military escort, over Canadian territory to the
Yukon River country and other mining regions of Alaska.
Your excellency will observe that the act also provides that, with the
consent of the Canadian Government, the Secretary of War may, in his
discretion, cause the relief thus provided to be extended in Canadian
territory. Permission for that purpose is also respectfully asked, and
for admission of supplies duty free to Canadian territory. As it is
necessary that the measures of relief contemplated shall be promptly
carried into effect, I have the honor to request the attention of your
excellency to the matter, in order that the train may be directed, if
the action of your Government shall warrant that course, to proceed with
the proper military escort over Canadian territory. As permission for
the passage of such escort is involved, and with a view to gaining time,
I beg that the inquiry may be made and the requisite permission be
obtained by telegraph.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 859.]
Fifty-fifth Congress of the United States of
America.
[Washington, December 6,
1897]
At the second session, begun and held at the city of
Washington on Monday, the sixth day of December, one thousand eight
hundred and ninety-seven.
AN ACT Authorizing the Secretary of War, in his
discretion, to purchase subsistence stores, supplies, and
materials for the relief of people who are in the Yukon River
country, to provide means for their transportation and
distribution, and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the sum of two hundred thousand dollars is
hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to be expended (or so much thereof as may be
necessary) in the discretion and under the direction of the
Secretary of War for the purchase of subsistence stores, supplies,
and materials for the relief of people who are in the Yukon River
country, or other mining
[Page 326]
regions of Alaska, and to purchase transportation and provide means
for the distribution of such stores and supplies: Provided. That with the consent of the Canadian Government
first obtained, the Secretary of War may cause the relief herein
provided for to be extended into Canadian territory.
That the said subsistence stores, supplies, and materials may be sold
in said country at such prices as shall be fixed by the Secretary of
War, or donated where he finds people in need and unable to pay for
the same.
That the Secretary of War is authorized to use the Army of the United
States in carrying into effect the provisions of this act, and may,
in his discretion, purchase and import reindeer and employ and bring
into the country reindeer drivers or herders not citizens of the
United States, or provide such other means of transportation as he
may deem practicable. The said reindeer or other outfit may he sold
and disposed of by the Secretary of War when he shall have no
further use for them under the provisions of this act, or he may
turn over the same or any part thereof to the Department of the
Interior, and the proceeds arising from all sales herein authorized
shall be covered in the Treasury.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of War shall make
report in detail to Congress at the beginning of its next regular
session as to all purchases, employments, sales, and donations or
transfers made under the provisions of this act.
- Thomas b. Reed,
Speaker of the Mouse of
Representatives. - Garret a. Hob art,
Vice-President of the United States
and President of the Senate.
Approved December 18, 1897.
