Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-01
WASHINGTON NOTES.
State Department OFFICIALS Mum In
Regard TO samoan conference
Other Matters
IRy telegraph b the Dispa.ch.l

10y telegraph 10 tho Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON. Nay 3l.--The State Depart
ment officials absolutely decline 20 discuss the
samoan conference or Behring's Sea tangle.
OF the former they admit that matters are IN
such shape "a 10 warrant the expectation OF
a speedy conclusion Of the conference, COM
parstIvely the unimportant details only rec
naming 10 be adjusted. But upon the pro-
visions 81 the treaty # treaty has yet been
drawn they refuse 10 talk, further than TO
say that the republic must receive ITS ini0r-
nation respecting the treaties IN the usual
course-namely, after action upon them by
the United States Senate, to which body all
treaties must be submitted for approval be-
fore they become operative. The obvious
reason for this course lies in the fact that iIn-
pOTtant amendments are often made by the
senate after the treaties have been arranged bY
the Diplomatic officers Of The treaty powers.
% radical are the changes, In fact that they
have caused a failure Of the pending trea-
tieS-a notable instance occurring IN The last
Congress. so far as can be learned there
il no new phase ia the Behring's Sea matter.
The Presidents proclamation appears 10
have closed the history OF the case, and II
cannot be learned that there hiss been any
corrcsp ondence between the Governments
Of the United States aud Great Britain on
the subject. According to the position taken
by the United states Government by the
congressional declaration the jurisdiction OF
the United States over the waters on the
Alaskan side Of Behring's Seal not adj
mitied TO be subject for negotiation. Our
Government simply asserts It's absolute
right and admits the existence of 10 ques'
ton for negotiation.
MINOR MATTERS.
500. Of which S303.500 AS At les were ac-
cep,ed. TIE remainder were As st prices
above 100 sud were rejected.
Ii is estimated at the Treasury to-day that
there has been = decrease OF SS.000,000 in tee
public debt during MAY, Notwithstanding the
disbursement Of nearly $l2,000,C COO during
the month on account OF pensions. The
Treasury surplus Is now stated at Sj4, o00,000.
Orders have been Issued to make ready the
Amphitrite, another uncOmpieted double
tnrreied monitor lying at the Harlan d
Hollincsworth sblp-yards at Wilmington,
Del, to be toWed TO League Island. she
viii be completed st that nayy-yard greatly
10 the disappointment OF the Virginia peo~
p'e. who have been endeavorlng to have the
work done at Norfolk TO make good the loss
OF the Puritan.
Secretary Window TO-DAY signed the sail
ing orders Of the revenue.steamer Bear, one
Of the vessels designated bv the President
TO assist Ia the enforcement Of the laws for
the protection OF the Alaskan seal fisheries.
The revcnue-steamer Flush is also detailed
for the service. and IL expected to sail from
san Francisco for Behring's Sea to-day or
Tomorrow.
The orders 70 the Bear are identical with
those OF the Rush, issued about week ago
and published at the ti0ie. The Bear Is or
dered 10 sail upon the receipt OF the orders,
which were mailed to-day. II Is said at The
DEPARTMENT that the instructions to the COM
manding officers Of the Rush aud Bear IN
regard % the seal fisheries are practically the
same rs those under which they acted last
year