New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-19
PROTECTION FOR ALASKA.
THE FUR SEALS AND SALMON FISHERIES
TO BE PRESERVED.
ruE HOUSE MAKES pRoenEss wITn THE BILL

THE HOUSE MAKES PROGRESS WITH THE '
TO SECURE AMERICAN RIGHTS IN ALASKA
Washington, Feb IS (speciall Tho House to day
by vote OF i44 to 81 ordered to third reading the
bill to authorize new lease of tho Seal ISLANDS OF
Alaska. and TO provide for the better protection Oh
the fur seals and salmon fisheries OF that Terfitoy'
The bill was then recommItted with instructions 10
tho committee to insert certain amendments ana VIVA
the privilege TO the committee to report IL PACK az
any time Tho amendments all TO the hrst
section and provide that the leaso shall be lor .
years instead Of twenty years; that the clause "hn
provides that In making the lease due regard shah
be had TO the interests Of the parties heretofore Gu
gagged In the trade" shall be eliminated; thar me
lease shall e approved by the President OF the Oheu
States before going into operation, and that tho pen
atty for killing seals by lessees In excess OF the ohe
hundred thousand per annum stipulated by law UT
by any other person In violation OF law, Shall 90 @io
per head The section also provides that tho IesSeeS
shall pay $4,000 per aLnum rent and SS oo per
head for each seal taken the entire number not 10
exceed 100000. Under the present lease the Gov
eminent receives $4,000 per annum and y o. LIZ
per head Tor each seal taken IL Is estimated 'ha'
the provisions Of the lease VIII add about SlooooO
per annum 10 the revenues of the Government.
Under the present lease, tho Government had re-
ceved from the Alaska Commercial Company, down
to June 30. 1888, period Of eighteen years,
S5,597,1Oo, an average of s3lo950 per year. The
outlay Of tho Government In the period has
been S250,O00 for salaries and travelling exper ses
Of Treasury agents and about 10000 for Revenue
cutters cruising In Alaskan waters In the same
period the Government has received In customs duties
Alaskan dressed seal skins imported from Europe
S3,42G,000 and S502,000 In customs duties on Inn
ported seal skins taken by the Alaska Company under
its contract with Russia making the aggregate amount
received by tho Government on account of this III
dustry $0.525,2s3, or 1895 ,2s3 more than The
amount paid TO Russia for Alaska.
No objection offered in the House to-day to
any section Of the bill except the frs. one. Tbs
second section declares that Section 1855, OF tho
Revised Statutes, which prohibits the killing Of seal
otter ETC., In Behring Sea- was Intended to In
clude and apply, and is hereby declared TO include
and apply, to all the waters Of Behring Sea in ALASKA
embraced within the boundary lines mentioned and d.
scribed in tho treaty with Russia dated March 30
1867 by which the Territory of Alaska was ceded to
tho United States, and 1t shall be the duty Of the
President. at timely season In each year. to issue
his proclamation and the same TO DO published
for one month In at least one newspaper published
at each United States port OF entry on tho Pacific
coast, warning all persons against entering said
territory and waters for the purpose OF violating the
provisions Of said section and he shall also cause
one more vessels Of tho United States to dill
gently cruise said waters and arrest all persous
and seize all vessels found to be- or 10 have been
gagged In any violation Of the laws OF the United States
therein
The action Of the House on this section was unanI-
nous and 1t must be construed as a unanimous re-
buke Of that body TO both Secretary Bsyard and Sec
gotlailons with foreign powers respecting matter
which Is the solo and exclusive OF tho United
authority virtually to suspend, by secret instructions
to officers Of the Revenue Marine a statute OF the
United states The privilege given 10 the commit
bill probable before the end of the session.