New-York tribune., 1869-03-17
4 TOTGH SEAL-SKIN JOB.

IL was customary few years ago for every
one wanting unusual wear out OF his head-gear
TO purchase q seal-sliin cap, on account OF the
peculiar toughness of the material. About the
toughest thing in the seal-skn way at this time
is Mr.. Ferry's bill TO protect the fur seal on the
Islands of st. Paul and St. George. The in
terests pushing this bill in the House, for it
has already passed the Senate so far presume
on the ignorance of the American people as to
argue its necessity upon the ground that un-
less it Immediately becomes law the seals may
be exterminatcd or driven away from the only
islands which they inhabit. 1t must be adj
mitted that most of us are not well in-
formed respecting our new fellow-citizens,
the Aleuts and Esquimaux, and we con-
fess that even the elaborate speeches
on the subject in Congress have failed
to enighten us. We are not, however,
to he persuaded that few adventurous Yam
KEGS are going to exterminate or drive away
the fur seal when even the Russo-American
Company had failed TO accomplish such an
undertaking. Solemn Senators proved Alaska
n region of perpetual Summer, and following
the example of their grave and reverend
seniors, impetuous Representatives are now
expected to rush to the defense of these carniv-
orous amphibia with enthusiasm, lest in their
despair and fright the mild and apprehensive
seals climb the North Pole.
The acquisition and government of Alaska
has been q stupendous swindle from the start.
While it has brought disgrace to us it entails
misfortune upon the former subjects of Russia.
We aro not likely to accord much credit to
the inhabitants of the Aleutan Islands for culti-
vation and refinement, but in our ten
derness for the fur seal we ought not to forget
that Russia provided schools for these islanders
while free-schOol-loving America has utterly
neglected them. To continue the wrong, Con-
gress is now on the point of legisating in favor
of q monopoly which, according TO the San
Francisco papers, first defrauded the Govern
ment. and afterward oppressed aud cheated the
inhabitants of Sitka.
The bill now before the House has the same
object rs the Cole bill of last session, and
Hutchinson, Kohl g. Co., in whose interest 1t is
framed, are the successors of the Russo-Ameri-
can Company-being, in fact, only an old mo-
nopoy with new name. Tho Cole bill pro-
posed to give these parties an exclusive lease
of tho two islands for thirty years. The num-
Der of seals TO be killed per annum was limited
to 175,000, and revenue tax of 81 was to be
assessed on each skin. Nobody desires any leg
islation OH the subject, and no interest, except
the interest of Hutchinson. Kohl & Co., demands
it. Another company, which has been trading
with the islands for fifteen years, and which is
well informed respecting their resources and
wants, puts the annual revenue to be de-
rived from them ut not less than S5OO,OOO,
instead of $4,000, as was apparently pro-
posed by the bill of last session. De-
feated in the last Congress, the parties to this
scheme were not deferred from pressing their
measure even in the first days OF the present
session. The bill passed by the Senate on the
9th inst. and also in the last Congress, was
modified so that the term of the lease Is fixed
at ten instead of thirty years, but the Secretary
of the Treasury, who has ample power already,
in conjunction with the War Department, to
take care of the revenue of the islands, is to
grant the lease " to the best advantage and
not to the highest bidder Iu these cases danger
always turks in phrase, and word harmless
enough in itself, is often made to cover O
stupondous fraud If the bill pass the House
and become law the franchise viii be most
valuable one. 1t is estimated that 1t
would bring, if thrown open to public
bidding, from $25OOOO to $S5oOOO to the
Government. Mr. Senator Ferry, in advocating
the bill, said that. if the bidding were made
public, fictitious bids would be put in, Tor tho
purpose of levyng black-mail upon those
engaged in the trade. This reasoning Is
disingenuous, especially as he puts the
annual revenue at only 100000. If it is the
purpose of tho bill 10 prevent the extermina-
tion of the soal, It is fair to presume that the
favored company would carry away peltries ut
least up To tho number of seals allowed to be
killed. But 10000 multiplied By al fails to iii
the Senator's arithmetic.
Thorc will bo formidable effort to push