New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
RIGHTS IN BEHRING SEA.
MR. BAYARDS RULING PASSION STRONG
IN DEATH.
NEGOTIATING A TREATY ON THE EVE or HIS
RETIREMENT FROM orFIoE-MR. HoARs
CALL FOR IMPORTATION ADOPTED
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSE.I

CALL FOR INFORMATION ADOPTED
BY THE SENATE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSEl
Washington, Jan 3.-The Senate, at the Instance
of Mr.. Hear has adopted the following resolution:
Resolved That the President Of the United States be
requested II not incompatible with the public interest 70
communicate to the Senate all correspondence which may
have taken place with the Government Britain in
regard to tho right Of fishing taking seal navigating
Behring Sea or In any waters adjacent thereto.
Also the circumstances In regard the seizure
lease Of British vessels by the
United States.
Also all regulations rules directions which may
been promulgated by the Government OF the United States
any department thereof In relation to fishing or taking
seal IN said sea waters.
Also inform Senate whether any or resuia
tons concerning such fishing
against citizens vessels OF the United States which are
enforced against the citizens vessels OF other eoun
tres
In the Presidents last annual message occurs a
para graph which does not seem 70 have received
the general attention which it deserves IL is as
follows:
My endeavors establish by International cooperation
measures for the prevention Of the determination 6, fur
seals in Behring Sea have been relaxed and have
hopes of being enabled shortly submit effective and
satisfactory conventional proiet maritime powers
for the approval of the Senate
This is the first public statement the Admins
Behring Sea question, and even this declaration
leaves much to be inferred. Mr. Bayard has a
weakness for dabbling in treaties and conventions
but fortunately for the country few of his projects
have ripened into actual success And now
within three months of the close of M Clevelands
Administration, and with q Republican Senate
holding the rens, he proposes an arrangement
with foreign powers for the protection OF far seal
interests in Behring Sea. But with what powers
he is going to deal he does not state nor the ques-
tions which he intends to have included in the
convention.
Prior to the accession OF Mr. Cleveland TO power
the Government of the United States had not in
single instance wavered in it's claim OF absolute
sovereignty over the whole of the domain, both
land and water, acquired from Russia, as set forth
in the treaty of cession. Not only was the claim
made but il was generally respected by citizens Of
foreign nations, and lest there should
be any violations of our rights in
these waters, one and sometimes two
revenue cutters were annually sent there
as police patrol and all persons found violat-
ing the law, whether foreigners or Americn citi-
zens were punished to the full extent of tho
law. In the early part of this Administration
the same courageous policy was followed Mr.
Manning, as Secretary of the Treasury, gave pub
hc notice Of the intention of the Government 10
protect lis rights there at all hazards and under
this policy many seizures of both foreign and
American vessels found engaged in piratical seal
ing were made and they weIe condenne. through
proper proceedings in the courts. But on the
first remonstrance OF England, Mr. Bayard
weakened, and began to talk of negotiating, and
as preliminary step TO such negotiation the
President ordered q release of the British YES
sels, while the full penalties of the law were
enforced against the American vessels and their
cargoes.
Under the encoura cement given by this ac
tlon, and by statements published in the Canadian
press that British sealers not TO be inter
Tered with, Behring Sea became alive with Brit
ish cruisers, while but few American vessels
dared venture into those waters. Last season
some 10000 sealskns were captured IN the
water by firearms which according 20 the best in.
formation involved slaughtering of over 200, 900
seals, as only about Que in seven Of those killed
are recovered. In addition TO this many Of tho
seals killed were females, and the killing Of such
seals Involved loss Of their unborn pups, thus
increasing largely the loss of seals on which no
tax was paid TO the Government. A continuance
OF this policy II was evident would soon lead 10
an utter determination Of the seals and destruc-
ton of the most important interests of the Cow
eminent in the Territory.
IL was therefore no wonder that Congress took
alarm ana ordered an inquiry into what the rights
OF the Government were in these waters, and
what steps bad been taken 70 enforce and protect
those rights. In June, 1888, the Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries was instructed t0
investigate fully the whole fur seal business in
Alaska, including, among other things, the
United States in the fur seal and other fish
cries in Behring Sea, in Alaska whether and 10
to what extent the same have been violated and
by whom, and what II any, legis aton is nee.
essary for the better protection and preservation
Of the same'
The testimony already taken fully snbsfan.
tiates the charges OF wanton slaughter OF seals
The action of the committee and OF the House
will be of unusual Importance in view OF the
fact that the lease with the company having
having the right to take fur seals is shortly
to expire, and the position Of the Government
on the question will largely enter INTO the aluc
of the rental and tax TO be obtained under
new lease. Meanwhile, Mr.. Bayard keeps up
a pretence of negotiating with foreign powers
to preserve rights which have hitherto been always
claimed The mere admission of the
right Of any foreign government 10 negotiate
on the question involves the abandonment of a
title of absolute ownership. heretofore asserted
and exercised. Besides, treaty convention.
to be Of any practical value must necessarily
include all foreign maritime powers, because
if have not the absolute ownership OF the
eastcrly half of Behring Sea, the vessels OF one
nation have much right there another. and
convention with England would not exclude
the right of Germany or France 10 take seals
as freely as they saw fit