The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-10
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
BIuster from Canada Respecting the
Behring Sea Difficulty.
The Dismissal OF Nineteen Boston
Customs Employees Approved.
Attorney General carland's Famous
Suit Set For a Hearing.


WASHINGTON, April S.-The fact that the
question of damages was not considered by
the Fisheries Commissioners indicates that
new convention will have to be called to set
tie these claims. and also those of Great Brit
ain arising out of the seizure OF British
poachers in Behring Sea. There has been a
good deal of buster lately INDUCED IN by the
Canadian press as to the action their govern.
ment proposed to take this coming sum-
mer in regard to the killing of fur seals IN
Behring Sea. British whalers, it is under
stood, propose to resist CAPTURE by force Of
arms. 1t is hardly to be believed that any
serious intention exists of carrying such
threats into effect. The United States gov
ernment mas taken but one position on the
subject of killing seals in Behring Sea ever
since the territory was purchased In 1867.
That position has been the assertion OF the
unquestioned right to control entirely the
killing of fur seals in those waters.
Year after year the Treasury Department.,
which is charged by law with the duty, OF
regulating this business, has issued its orders
ture to kill any fur seals in the waters OF the
Territory of Alaska, and when that depart
ment was asked in 1871 to define what was
meant by the term waters Of the Territory"
it said that the phrase included all the waters
described within the limits mentioned in the
treaty of cession, which covers practically
the whole easterly half of Behring Sea, the
westerly half being continued under. the do
minion of Russia. Secretary Manning sup
ported this construction, and recently orders
were given by Secretary Fairchlld to the
same effect and sent to the collectors OF Gus
h. Do 60 oct xxrtf n
structions to give them wide publicity, SO
that all parties concerned might have 1uil
knowledge of what this government consld-
cred its rights in the premises, and OF the ac-
tion which which would be taken to enforce
those rights should parties persist in their
freebooting enterprises.
Neither the British government nor any
other government has at any time entered
protest against the issuance of such orders,
nor has the British government taken posi-
tive position against that taken by cur gov
ernment on the question. The most tnat
sons for our seizing British vessels in those
waters, and what position our government
intended to take in the future on the subject.
To these inquiries it is understood the United
States has not yet officially responded, but
the key to the situation is found In the nature
of the warnings recently issued by the trea-
sury against illicit sealing.
The Dependent Pension Bill.
The House committee on invalid pensions,
this morning took final action upon the
Senate bill, known as the dependent pen
sion bill. A substitute was adopted fol
the second section. the principal section Of
the bull
The substitute provides pensions for all
persons who have served in the military OF
naval service OF the United States for any
period, and who are now or who may here
after be suffering from mental or physical
disability not the result of their own vicious
habits which totally disables them from per-
formance of manual labor at rate per
month of one cent for every days war SER
vice. 1t further provides the same pension
for all persons who are 62 years OF age, or
who may hereafter become 62 years of age
during their natural lives.
Section three was amended SO as to pro-
vide that when the widow of any person
who served in the war and had been honora-
bly, discharged, is in condition of depen-
dence or suffering from any disability recog-
nized by general pension laws, or is 62 years
years of age, she shall be placed upon the
pension roll at rate per month OF one cent
per month for every days service of her hus-
band.
,4rTabbss Tbs element Of dependency placed in the
ted ao 60 that ali I soIdiers @ are /" he nensioned
for their services equally with regard to
their financial condition and according to
per diem.
The amendments were adopted by strict
party vote, the Republicans favoring thelpro-
visions of the Senate bill, so that the amend
ed bill may be regarded as embodying Demo-
cratic policy in the matter of pension legis-
lation.
Customs Employees Dismissed.
Acting Secretary Thompeon today ap-
proved the recommendation of the collector
at Boston for the dismissal of nineteen en-
ployes of that port so take effect the 1st inst.
These changes will effect eff a saving of $4,000
in the last three months of the present
fiscal year.
The Oleomargarine Case.
The Supreme Court today rendered an
opinion in case No. S14, William l.. Powell,
plaintiff in error, VS.. the Commonwealth of
commonly known as the sole
omargarine case" in error to the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania. This case brings up
for review judgment of the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania sustaining the validity of
t..tute of that Commonwealth making it un-
lawful for any person to manufacture, sell,
or offer for sale any butter or cheese, or art-
Gle designed to take the place of these arti-
cles, produced from any compound other
than unadulterated milk or cream. The
plaintiff was convicted of a violation OF this
statute, and took an appeal basing 1t on the
ground that the statute was in violation OF
the fourteenth amendment to the Constitu-
tion, and that the article sold was new in
vention, not deleterious to tha public health.
The Court holds that it is entirely within
the police powers Of the State to protect the
public health and that the question wheth-
er the manufacture OF oleomargarlne is or
may be conducted in such way as to involve
such danger to the public health as to re-
quire the suppression of the business rather
than its regulation are questions OF fact and
of public policy, which belong to the legis-
latfve department to determine. The judg-
ment Of the court below is accordingly af-
frmed.
The Telephone Litigation.
In the supreme court today the case of the
United States VS.. the. Bell Telephone COM
pany was advanced on the docket and set for
a hearing on the second day of the next term.
This is the case brought against the Bell
Telephone company in Ohio by Attorney
General Garland, and which has excited con-
siderable interest throughout the country.
Going to Texas.
President Cleveland is contemplating an
other Southern trip. Much will depend upon
the action of Congress, but if political condi-
tions are favorable he will probably go. He
has been invited to visit Texas during the
week in which the new State capital at Aus
tin is to be dedicated and he has promised to
accept if possible. The impression in Wash
ington is that he will 60.
Notes.
A large number of petitions for govern
ment postal telegraph have been presented
Congressman Dingley presented large one
from the Second Maine District today.
Hon. William Henry Clifford of Portland,
is in the city.
A postoffice has been established at West
Lubec, Washington county, and John s.
Calkins appointed postmaster.